Govt prepares Britons for ‘no deal’ Brexit

LONDON: With less than three months until Britain is due to leave the EU, the British Government is launching a publicity drive to prepare the public for a possible nodeal Brexit.

Guidance on how the public could get ready for issues that might arise from a disorderly break from Europe were soon set to be published, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said.

The public information campaign comes after the Govern ment sought to advise businesses on how they might best prepare for no deal.

Barclay said no deal would be ‘‘far more likely’’ if MPs rejected the Prime Minister’s agreement when a vote was held in the week beginning January 14.

‘‘The pace and intensity of the work we are doing reflects the potential scale of this disruption to people and businesses across the UK that a nodeal scenario could bring,’’ the minister wrote in the Daily Express.

‘‘The Home Office will next week be publicising guidance on new passport rules for people travelling to many European countries . . . some people have to renew their passport earlier than planned.

‘‘Advice is already available online and next week the Home Office will further publicise how to renew a passport as easily as possible.

‘‘The Department for Trans port is sharing guidance on how we will ensure people can continue to travel to the EU in the event of no deal, and today the medicines regulator has updated guidance to ensure regulatory processes for medicines, medical devices and clinical trials are fit for purpose.

‘‘And, on Tuesday, we will start a new phase in our public information campaign, using radio and social media to further raise awareness.’’ — BPA