Ex-Welsh Secretary ridiculed for proposed solution to HGV driver shortage

A former Welsh Secretary has been ridiculed for his proposed solution to the acute shortage of HGV drivers.

John Redwood, the Tory MP for Wokingham in Berkshire, has been lampooned on social media and described as “barking” for his the answer to the crisis.

The lack of drivers for heavy goods vehicles has led to shortages in supermarkets, restaurants, and to people panic buying fuel at petrol stations.

Experts have pointed to Brexit as one of the causes of the shortage in HGV drivers.

Arch Eurosceptic Redwood suggested that employers need to learn from on line companies who use drivers for parcel van deliveries.

He said: “On line companies have attracted lots of extra drivers to do parcel van deliveries. HGV employers need to learn from them how they did it.”

The presenter Gary Lineker responded with: “Well said. They could go on YouTube to learn how to drive an HGV.”

His tweet also included a facepalm emoji.

If you can’t tell that a parcel delivery driver isn’t the same as an HGV driver, then I don’t know what more to say.
The job isn’t the same.
The vehicle isn’t the same.
The hours aren’t the same.
It’s like comparing fish to cows.

— Secretary of State for Socially Uncaring Health (@HUncaring) September 27, 2021

‘Barking’ 

The former England rugby international Brian Moore said: “We’re getting into barking territory here”.

The comedian Chris Addison said: “Thousands of primary schools have managed to recruit recorder players. Symphony orchestras need to learn from them how they did it.”

Jon Birchall said: “They should just get Hermes to do it yeah. Looking forward to them mixing orders up and volleying 1000 kilos of Ammonium Nitrate behind our bins while an agricultural plant in Telford gets my socks from Uniqlo.”

The LBC radio presenter James O’Brien replied simply with: “Good grief”.