Six-hour delays at the port of Dover and fuel-price protesters blocking the M5 turned the start of the summer holidays into a nightmare for many families.
French border staffing shortages are blamed for the chaos in Kent but Brexit hasn’t helped.
The UK Government now has less clout than it had as an EU member, as we also see over refugee and migrant Channel boat crossings.
Holidaymakers trying to get to Devon and Cornwall won’t thank the demonstrators.
They’ll just know that their misery during a cost of living crisis is being compounded.
Add more threatened rail strikes and airport chaos and the summer holidays are off to a bad start for many people who have worked and saved hard for a break they deserve.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is nowhere to be seen – hopefully he’s fuming behind a caravan on the M5.
Grain of hope
As the head of the Red Cross says, grain exports resuming from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports will save lives by preventing famine in European countries.
Inflationary pressures might even be eased a little in Britain and the Ukrainian Government will welcome export revenues.
But the deal signed to secure the passage of vital goods while fighting continues in other parts of the invaded country must not be allowed to normalise Russian occupation of Ukraine’s devastated Donbas region.
The UK and other democracies need to continue tightening sanctions on Putin’s Russia as well as sending military aid.
Opposing the warmonger’s unprovoked invasion remains a noble cause.
Trials of love
Marriage break-ups are tough, and money and fame won’t shield Christine and Paddy McGuinness from heartbreak and soul-searching due to their split.
But many people can come out the other side happier. For the sake of their children, we hope the repackaged family proves a success.
