We appear to be entering squeaky bum time in the Brexit deadline negotiations
Three-and-a-half million rolls of toilet paper are being stockpiled in case of supply shortages in the event of a no deal Brexit, an industry boss has revealed.
Wepa is a German-owned toilet paper producer with its UK headquarters in Bolton and production site in Bridgend, with Lidl, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Tesco among its clients.
In total, 3.5 million toilet rolls are being kept back, amounting to 600 tonnes. UK boss Mike Docker has admitted that his company are now chartering ships to process imports, rather than risk sending trucks through potentially blocked ports and roads.
An extra 60,000 square feet of storage space taken on for the stockpiling, which includes basic cardboard and tissue as well as the finished product.
The UK government has only eight days left to seal an orderly exit from the European Union and Theresa May remains attached to her withdrawal agreement – despite two overwhelming rejections in House of Commons votes.
The prime minister arrived in Brussels on Thursday to ask for a short delay to the Article 50 leaving process, which the EU has described as “conditional” on her deal passing through parliament.
This is amid a number of industries back home taking measures to stockpile vital supplies ahead of a potential no deal. So far, food, military equipment and bodybags are among the items being stored for the scenario.