BRITS are unlikely to benefit from faster passport checks in Europe this summer, a minister admitted.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed EU e-gate access as one of the main victories of his controversial new deal.
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It would see UK visitors to the continent zip through border control rather than wait in lengthy queues.
But it must wait until a new biometric system comes in from October, then it is up to individual nations to allow access.
Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden said it was “highly unlikely” passengers would be able to use the e-gates this summer.
He said: “The EU is introducing this new entry and exit scheme so nothing is going to happen before that’s in place, and that’s not yet in place.
“They’ve put the date back for that a few times, the latest date is the autumn, let’s see if that’s stuck to.
“After that it’s up to the member states.
“But this gives us the possibility, I’d say the probability, that people will be able to use the e-gates in future, which is not a possibility at the moment.”
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