Shapps continued to reiterate the testing growth in place and how the government is continuing to encourage people to the profession and refused to “rule out” any possible resolutions to the crisis.
Reacting to the debate, it seems many sided with Charlie, as Diane said on Twitter: “Just been listening to grant shapps going on about extra HGV test slots – my son applied for his provisional HGV licence in May, still waiting, so no matter how many tests available he can’t do the training till he has a licence- so they need to look at the whole process.”
Jack blasted: “So is the agreement between the BBC & the Tories that they’ll appear on your shows as long as you don’t ask them any questions about Brexit? Shapps going completely unchallenged about the real reasons for the driver shortage on #BBCBreakfast this morning. Not one B word question.”
While Jenny weighed in: “@BBCBreakfast is Grant Shapps serious? He does realise, surely, that very few companies will take on a newly qualified HGV driver? They all want 2 years experience. Also no fuel company is going to let a newly qualified driver drive combustible fuel around the week after passing!”
And @_SonOftheDesert vented: “Grant Shapps talking out of his a**e on @BBCBreakfast. Of course bringing in EU drivers would help. It’s a 20 week process to get new HGV drivers qualified, so let’s bring in outside workers on 6-month contracts.”
BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.