Using the death of 39 people in Essex for Brexit purposes in 3..2..1...

[Denzil_DC]

2. Anthony Steen of the Human Trafficking Foundation was just interviewed on Radio 4.

He made some reasonable observations, the first was anguish at how desperate these people must have been to find themselves in such a horrible position, whether voluntarily or under duress.

He also feared that the traffickers might have preyed on the lack of information among the victims, who may have been told that they'd better get into the UK quick before Brexit happened, even though their situation in the UK would be no worse (or better) after Brexit because they weren't EU citizens (at least as far as we know at the moment).

He didn't say that Brexit caused this, but felt the confusion around it may have been a contributory factor, and did say it would continue after it.

Anyone who tries to capitalize on this as a justification for Brexit will have have to account for the fact there have been suggestions that some cargoes would just be waved through at the border, particularly if a no deal Brexit happened, to cope with the tailbacks. It's unlikely in those circumstances that checks would be more stringent than they are now.