The government is struggle to deliver the changes to the UK visa system and borders in time for Brexit, according to Meg Hillier, chairwoman of the Commons public accounts committee.
Ms Hillier, Labour MP, delivered her comments in response to the release of a report from the National Audit Office (NAO), which revealed that Britain should expect to see a significant rise in the workload faced by border forces when the country’s exit from the European Union is complete.
In response to the audit, the government has stated that it will make sure all border forces have the resources they need to cope with UK visa issues and any other UK immigration issue prompted by Brexit.
However, Ms Hillier argues that the current lack of exit deal could delay or even halt the government’s plans to tackle immigration challenges in advance of the final Brexit date.
She continued: "Add to that the Home Office's poor track record with projects like e-borders and for all the government bluster about Brexit it's difficult to see how, practically, it will be able to deliver any of these huge changes in time."
According to Labour MP Chris Bryant, member of pro-EU group Open Britain, the new NAO report suggests lack of action could leave Britain facing the “nightmare scenario” of disruption to the roads, food supply and business costs if the government fails to confront the issue of the post-Brexit UK immigration system soon.