Thomas Symonds Announces E-Gate Deal Already Agreed Three Years Ago – Guido Fawkes

Thomas Symonds Announces E-Gate Deal Already Agreed Three Years Ago

EU relations minister Nick Thomas Symonds has just announced in the Commons that Portugal will allow E-gate use for British travellers. Which he hails as a major win of Starmer’s EU deal…

“It slashes red tape and bureaucracy boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holiday makers indeed I’m delighted to confirm uh this morning that Faro airport in Portugal will start the roll out of E-gate access to UK arrivals this week.”

Labour is in a habit of re-announcing years-old initiatives. Guido is reminded of a story from back in April 2022:

“Gatwick Airport – which has more flights to Portugal than any UK airport – welcomes news that British travellers to Portugal can now use electronic e-gates at the border to help make entry into the country quicker and smoother.

Lisbon, Faro, Porto and Funchal (Madeira Island) airport all have RAPIDforALL e-gate facilities available, so British passengers using them do not need to queue in conventional passport control lanes, although they will still be required to go through a quick passport stamping process.”

E-gate deals are nothing to do with Brexit and are bilaterally negotiated with individual member states. Starmer’s deal has nothing to do with it…

As Labour finally confirmed last night British travellers will have to fingerprint and photograph themselves in Autumn anyway as part of the EU’s new EES system at borders. The ‘shorter queues’ spin crumbles to dust…