Reform UK leader moans about Eurostar skipping Kent stations without mentioning why

A Reform UK council leader moaned about Eurostar not stopping at two train stations - but didn’t mention that a major reason they don’t is down to Brexit.

The cross-channel train service used to stop at both Ashford International and Ebbsfleet International stations in Kent.

But services stopped during the pandemic and never restarted.

Eurostar bosses have said they want to bring the services back to Kent, but list Brexit among the main reasons they can’t afford to.

Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of Best for Britain said, "As usual with Reform, it's difficult to tell where dishonesty ends and incompetence begins and this latest episode is beyond farce.

"The cut to this service was a direct consequence of Brexit, the chief architect of which was Nigel Farage. The people of Kent need look no further than him for this failure. Both they and Britain deserve better than his repeated attempts to stifle our great country”

This week, Kent Council’s Reform UK leader Linden Kemkaran gave a speech outlining her priorities for the region.

She pledged to host an event to lure the train firm back to the region - promising to serve “delicious Kentish food and wine, and show Eurostar exactly what they are missing.”

Eurostar is due to reconsider whether to restart services stopping at the two stations this year.

READ MORE: Join our Mirror politics WhatsApp group to get the latest updates from Westminster

But in 2023, the firm’s General Secretary, Gareth Williams, said new Brexit border checks “pose a serious risk” to the company’s business.

Even passengers who use e-gates at the main St Pancras hub need to have their passport stamped separately, causing huge queues at the station and forcing some trains to run with seats unsold.

Mr Williams said the pressure on border capacity had “forced some really difficult commercial choices.”