UK tourists warned over new airport Border Control rules and 'disruption'

UK tourists have been warned of holiday chaos with new European Union border control rules. A number of ministers have raised concerns about the new system with one insider saying the main risk is that "we are in the hands of the French".

UK tourists and passport holders will be forced to go through fingerprint checks and face scans under a new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) from October. One senior Government insider said: “The main risk is that we are in the hands of the French in those places where there is going to be disruption on UK soil."

Lord Cameron, James Cleverly and Mark Harper have all raised concerns about the new system with French ministers, the Telegraph has reported. The national newspaper has spoken to senior Whitehall sources and senior Tory insiders.

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Defending the new rules, one Brit wrote on Twitter/X: "These gates are already in use in many EU countries, works well." A second agreed and wrote online: "Returned from italy yesterday all ready in use and with no problem."

"Time for the UK to get the biometric ID cards on the go, you can not leave or gain access to the UK unless you have one. You can not use the NHS or any services unless you produce one, same as claiming any benefits," a third wrote.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, discussed the new system on a trip to Paris in late December with Catherine Colonna, who was then the French foreign affairs minister. Mr Cleverly, the Home Secretary, talked about the new border system with Gérald Darmanin, the French interior minister, when they met in Paris in late January.

Mr Harper, the Transport Secretary, and Patrice Vergriete, the French transport minister, discussed the issue in talks at the G7 transport ministers summit in Milan last month.