As the UK government grapples with the challenges of building a post-Brexit trade border, delays and computer glitches have emerged as significant obstacles. The National Audit Office’s recent findings reveal that the project’s costs are expected to soar to at least £4.7bn.
Initially, the government had pledged to establish the “world’s most effective border” by next year to facilitate smoother trade flows between the UK and the rest of the world. However, the core technology required for this digitally advanced border is facing several major challenges, according to the NAO report on the UK government’s 2025 Border Strategy published on Monday.
The ambition for the future UK border is to offer a consolidated platform for import, export, and transit paperwork through a “single trade window.” Despite this vision, the NAO found a lack of cross-government integrated delivery plan for the strategy, leading HM Revenue & Customs to now anticipate an incremental delivery by 2027.
The NAO’s critical evaluation came on the heels of IT glitches affecting post-Brexit border checks on EU food and plant imports, causing frustration among hauliers and importers. The Home Office also faces challenges in implementing a new computer system, Cerberus, required for the next phase of the border in October.
Gareth Davies, the head of the NAO, emphasized the need for improved cross-Whitehall planning and a more realistic approach to digital transformation to successfully deliver the new digital border. Meg Hillier, chair of the House of Commons’ public accounts committee, highlighted the importance of clear vision and better planning to avoid delays and changes that often lead to wasted public funds.
Recent efforts to revamp the UK’s borders have encountered political U-turns and delays, resulting in misallocated funds. For instance, £62mn was spent on a customs post at Dover that was deemed unnecessary, and £258mn went towards constructing temporary border facilities that were never utilized, despite the additional demand expected.
Moreover, a contract worth £150mn awarded to Deloitte and IBM for the single trade window programme was found to be several months behind schedule. The Brexit border costs have already escalated to £2.6bn, with limited improvements observed by traders dealing with Northern Ireland trade schemes.
Anna Jerzewska from Trade & Borders consultancy highlighted that most traders experienced added costs and administrative burdens due to the inefficiencies in the system. The performance of previous UK customs computer programs raises doubts about the timely completion of the single trade window.
David Henig from the European Centre for International Political Economy noted the disparity between the government’s promises on the border and the practical challenges faced by traders. Marco Forgione of the Institute of Export & International Trade attributed the UK’s struggles to a lack of interoperability and collaboration.
Despite these setbacks, the Cabinet Office remains optimistic about the border rollout, with ongoing efforts to introduce post-Brexit import checks this year while minimizing disruptions. The upcoming launch of the single trade window aims to streamline information provision from traders to the government.