The Government chose yesterday (Sunday 12 July) to publish a £750m funding package concerning its plans for border controls post Brexit at the end of the year.

Politics was clearly involved with the unexpected announcement following a leaked letter from International Trade Secretary Liz Truss raising concerns about the readiness of Britain's ports.

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove, set to appear on the BBC’s high profile Andrew Marr programme, had to defend the new border arrangements scheme after Labour accused the Government of being unprepared.

Labour's Rachel Reeves said the plans were "too little too late."

Mr Gove insisted the Government had been "laying the groundwork for months".

Under the plans, new border posts will be created inland where existing ports have no room to expand to cope with the extra checks that will be required.

It relates only to the external borders of England, Scotland and Wales. Mr Gove told  Andrew Marr that more details will be set out about the situation for Northern Ireland "later this month".

Asked about reports the Government had bought land in Kent to build a large lorry park as part of preparations for post-Brexit border checks, Mr Gove said: "It is not our intention to create a massive concrete lorry park, it is the intention to provide the smart infrastructure which in Kent and elsewhere will allow the freight to flow."

www.gov.uk/government/news/705-million-investment-for-gb-eu-border