UK's post-Brexit border dream closed after 111M spent

"The UK's long-promised "Single Trade Window" has quietly run out of steam after burning through more than £111 million ($150 million), with officials confirming the program has been "brought to early closure." Freedom of Information (FOI) responses obtained by TaxWatch and shared with The Register suggest the flagship border digitization scheme is effectively on ice. HM Revenue & Customs says there are no staff working on the project and no spending on it this financial year, despite total costs reaching £111.44 million."

"The STW was supposed to make import and export paperwork less of a slog by allowing businesses to submit data once rather than switching between government systems. Ministers long pitched it as a cornerstone of post-Brexit border modernization, part of the plan to build the "world's most effective border." The government handed Deloitte the border technology contract in 2023, but the National Audit Office later warned HMRC it needed to be a stronger "intelligent client" when dealing with major suppliers."

The Single Trade Window (STW) programme has been paused and effectively brought to early closure after total costs reached £111.44 million. HM Revenue & Customs reports no staff assigned to operational delivery for financial year 25/26 and no expenditure during that period. The technical delivery contract with Deloitte has been closed. The STW aimed to let businesses submit import and export data once instead of using multiple government systems to simplify trade. The National Audit Office warned HMRC to act as a stronger 'intelligent client' with major suppliers. The Treasury confirmed early closure while policy work reportedly continues in the background.

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