Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is facing criticism for her response to significant delays at European airports, stemming from the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). According to parliamentary sketchwriter Quentin Letts, Alexander has not utilized the situation to create political pressure on the EU or to highlight potential benefits for British travelers.
Letts suggests that a more proactive Transport Secretary would have seized the opportunity to criticize European "technical incompetence and political disunity" and potentially encourage British families to holiday in countries like Greece, which have reportedly opted out of operating the EES this summer. Such a strategy, he argues, could have pressured Brussels into reconsidering the system.
However, the article posits that Alexander, described as "not high-energy" and more focused on domestic issues like 20mph speed limits and electric cars, has not taken such an approach. The delays are attributed to new passport checks required by the EES, a system unpopular with some EU member states and British travelers alike.
During a recent Transport Questions session, Alexander reportedly delegated discussion of the EES to an underling, Keir Mather. When questioned about discussions with Cabinet colleagues, Mather responded with official-sounding language about managing "flows" and "adjustments," which the author characterizes as evasive. Sir Roger Gale, a Conservative Member of Parliament, also raised concerns about the "ridiculous" EES checks, but received a response about funding for juxtaposed controls to prepare for disruption.
Letts portrays Alexander as passively observing these exchanges, implying a lack of interest in the immediate impact on holidaymakers facing long queues. The criticism centers on a perceived missed opportunity for political maneuverability amidst widespread travel disruptions.