UK sea barges plan to keep lights on in North

OFFICIALS in London examining a no-deal Brexit fear they may need to acquire thousands of electricity generators at short notice to put on barges in the Irish Sea so the lights can be kept on in Northern Ireland.

A document drawn up by UK officials said the plan would see equipment commandeered from the military and flown back from Nato-led operations in countries such as Afghanistan.

Ireland and Northern Ireland share a single energy market, but UK officials fear leaving the EU without an exit deal would lead to energy providers in the Republic cutting off power to the North because the UK would no longer be part of Europe’s electricity market.