Top European holiday destination to let British travellers skip lengthy passport queues this summer
HOLIDAYMAKERS heading to Portugal will face shorter airport queues THIS WEEK with Brits able to use e-gates.
The sunshine destination will become the first country to allow UK passport holders to use the system since Sir Keir Starmer struck a deal with Brussels.
1
Travellers heading to Faro airport will be able to use e-gates
Credit: twitter/@JeffStelling
Travellers have had to queue to have their passports stamped when arriving for their break since the UK left the European Union - often leading to long queues.
Around 2.5 million people head to Portugal each year with more with 300,000 heading to the Algarve. Around 50,000 Brits live in the country.
It has now been confirmed that holidaymakers heading to Faro airport will be able to use the hi-tech system.
Europe relations Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said: "The historic deal that we signed with the EU on May 19 is in our national interests - good for bills, borders and jobs.
"It slashes red tape and bureaucracy, boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holidaymakers.
"Indeed, I'm delighted to confirm this morning that Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week."
Only last month, EU relations minister Thomas-Symonds strongly hinted that Brits will face less time waiting at border control.
He said: 'I would love to see you being able to go through the border more quickly in that way.
'That's certainly something we've been pushing with the EU and I think that will be something that will be very helpful to British people.'
The Prime Minister revealed details of Brits using e-gates during the first summit between Britain and the European Union.
But the use of e-gates had to be given the green light by individual countries.
The PM came under fire by explicitly saying that ''Brits travelling to Europe will now be able to use e-gates'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Farage is like a tribune for the working class, says former Bank of England economist
Nigel Farage is the closest to a 'tribune for the working class', the former Bank of England chief economist has said in a stark warning for Keir Starmer's Labour party. Andy Haldane said the surge in support for Reform UK in the opinion polls suggested there had been 'something of a moral rupture' between the government and many voters, which should spur Starmer to take action with a 'radical reset' of its growth plans. He said Labour's misfiring growth strategy and decisions on winter fuel payments and the two-child benefit limit had opened the door to Farage by fuelling a sense that mainstream politicians promise change but fail to deliver. Asked whether Reform was the new party of the working class, Haldane said: 'I do not know. [But] as things stand today, and doing no more than echoing what is in the polls … that is what the larger part of the working classes think – which matters rather more than what I think. What is certainly true, is Nigel Farage is as close to what the country has to a tribune for the working classes. 'I don't think there's any politician that comes even remotely close to speaking to, and for, blue-collar, working-class Britain. I think that is just a statement of fact and in some ways, that underscores the importance of the other parties doing somewhat better to find a story, to find a language, and to find some policies that speak to the needs of those most in need.' Labour fended off Reform in Thursday's Holyrood byelection by winning the central Scotland seat of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse. But its defeat last month in the Runcorn byelection and Reform's victories in hundreds of council seats in England has raised concerns that Labour is struggling to hold on to core voters in its heartlands. Ahead of Rachel Reeves's spending review on Wednesday and imminent announcement on the government's industrial strategy, Haldane urged the chancellor to double down on Labour's devolution agenda and to provide extra financial firepower to support manufacturing jobs and communities. Reeves has argued that Britain's economy is turning a corner after a weak performance at the end of 2024, although has acknowledged that the public 'are becoming restless' amid a battle to raise living standards. Haldane, a key architect of the last government's levelling up plans, said a rethink of Labour's regional growth plans was needed. 'Opportunity is knocking for a reset,' he said. 'Both in how the growth and industrial strategy is conceived of, but also how it's financed. 'Personally I have been very disappointed with the government offerings on this front so far. I am surprised there has not been a greater focus, other than in sloganeering, on properly empowering the regions and nations of the UK. Frankly without which the government's growth mission has no hope.' Haldane, who is stepping down as the chief executive of the Royal Society of Arts thinktank at the end of this month, said a 'sterile injection of optimism, money, and power' was needed in communities where many voters feel left behind. Sign up to Business Today Get set for the working day – we'll point you to all the business news and analysis you need every morning after newsletter promotion He said the industrial strategy, which will set out government plans to support eight key sectors of the economy, could help Labour to win support in 'red wall' seats in the north and midlands of England where Reform is making headway. However, more investment was required in education, skills and training. 'A key missing ingredient from the government's growth plan generally, and from previous governments' growth plans, and at risk of being missing from the industrial strategy, is what is the people strategy to back that up,' he said. Haldane had been chair of the last government's Industrial Strategy Council before the group was abolished. Labour has created an advisory council to oversee its plan, led by Clare Barclay, the head of Microsoft in the UK.
Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Letter: Britain must not be dragged back into the EU
There is a clear and compelling case for Britain to remain a self-governing, sovereign nation, under its own parliament, courts, and laws, pursuing global trade on its own terms. What Keir Starmer has agreed with Brussels stands in stark opposition to that principle. His new deal quietly re-submits the UK to the EU's law-making machinery through so-called 'dynamic alignment,' stripping away regulatory autonomy without voting rights or formal influence. This is not co-operation, it's rule-taking. Worse still, this violates the terms of our recently signed Asia-Pacific trade pact (CPTPP) and risks legal action that will damage Britain's global credibility. What message does this send to future trade partners? That Britain cannot be trusted to stick to its own treaties? That any agreement is temporary until Labour reopens the backdoor to Brussels? Starmer's move was done without a public mandate, with no clear economic benefit, and likely at great cost to key growth sectors like biosciences and agri-tech, now vulnerable to intrusive EU regulation. The EU did not demand such concessions from New Zealand or other sovereign nations. Why should we be the exception? British farmers have already warned that any SPS (sanitary and phytosanitary) deal must protect our right to make our own production rules. Yet Starmer's approach risks sacrificing that independence under the false promise of smoother trade. From live animal exports to cosmetic testing, will the UK now be forced to unwind hard-won ethical reforms to satisfy Brussels? Britain didn't vote for a satellite status. We must not be dragged back step by step into the EU's orbit through political sleight of hand.
The Herald Scotland
3 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Padstow in Cornwall among Britain's best genteel seaside towns
Padstow was featured alongside nine others in a list from The Telegraph, which was highlighting coastal destinations that made for a refined trip. The publication said: "While there's a certain nostalgic joy to the type of coastal resort that's all candy floss, waltzers and slot machines, there's arguably greater pleasure in towns that have the seascapes and the golden sand but that are more cute than kitsch. "More sourdough than doughnut. More vibrant arts scene than end-of-the-pier innuendo. More artisanal ice cream than Mr Whippy." The full list of Britain's best genteel seaside towns can be found on The Telegraph website here. Why is Padstow among Britain's most genteel seaside towns? Padstow is obviously known for its variety of restaurants, which have made it a haven for diners and give it a refined quality. The Telegraph wrote: "Peaceful fishing village turned foodie phenomenon, Padstow is the British coast's tastiest choice. "Rick Stein is the main man about town, of course. His original Seafood Restaurant turns 50 this year, but has since been joined by a smorgasbord of other venues; for sociable platters served with Camel Valley sparkling, try his Seafood Bar & Fishmongers." For other options, try Paul Ainsworth at No.6 if you want to go "fancy", while BinTwo is a recommended wine bar/bottle shop. The publication adds: "Balance all this consumption with a walk along the cracking coast path and a ferry trip over to – even posher? – Rock, 'Britain's Saint-Tropez'." Another place to try out is the Padstow Kitchen Garden, which was created by former Rick Stein chef and seventh-generation farmer Ross Geach. You can gorge on "greenhouse dinners" here as part of 'feasts' that they run, or take part in a course learning how to cook nutritious meals using vegetables you've grown yourself. In terms of a place to stay, The Telegraph recommends Plum Cottage, which has only opened this year. It is said to be "an exquisitely restored, Grade-II listed, antique-filled hideaway". What else can you see and do around Padstow? As the Visit Cornwall website says, Padstow is more than "just great places to eat". It adds: "It's still a working harbour, it's surrounded by glorious beaches, and offers a base to explore the Camel estuary." The town is surrounded by "two breathtaking National Landscapes" in the Camel Estuary and Carnewas to Stepper Point. Recommended reading: It says: "This area is rich in natural beauty, home to rare plant species and one of the UK's most protected mammals, the otter. It's the perfect spot to slow down and enjoy the tranquillity of nature." Outside of the fine dining, there are plenty of cafes, bistros and pubs where people can enjoy some quality food and drink offerings. Some of these include The Harbour Inn, Old Custom House, The Shipwrights and The Golden Lion.
