Brexit: Labour calls for Chris Grayling to be sacked after axing of ferry contract to company with no ships

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Chris Grayling is facing calls to quit after the government scrapped a multimillion pound ferry contract to provide no-deal Brexit services, awarded to a firm with no ships. “This saga has been beyond satire and it’s a worrying indictment on this government’s lack of preparation.” However, leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg questioned whether Leo Varadkar’s Irish government was responsible for Arklow’s decision. “That would be a very unfriendly act of a neighbour to obstruct no-deal preparations and one has to hope very sincerely that this is genuinely a corporate decision.” It comes after Mr Grayling, whose department is heavily affected by Brexit, said attacks on his competence were because he had become a “lightning rod for the anti-Brexit brigade”. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “Following the decision of Seaborne Freight’s backer, Arklow Shipping, to step back from the deal, it became clear Seaborne would not reach its contractual requirements with the government.