Leaked UK memos warn of Brexit choas
‘NO-DEAL’ RISKS INCLUDE FUEL, FOOD, DRUG SHORTAGES
Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and medicine if it leaves the European Union without a transition deal, according to leaked official documents reported by the Sunday Times, but whose interpretation was contested by ministers.
Setting out a vision of jammed ports, public protests and widespread disruption, the Times said the forecasts compiled by the Cabinet Office set out the most likely aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the worst case scenarios.
But Michael Gove, the minister in charge of coordinating no-deal preparations, challenged that, saying that the documents did set out a worst case scenario and that planning had been accelerated in the last three weeks.
The Times said up to 85% of lorries using the main channel crossings “may not be ready” for French customs, meaning
disruption at ports would potentially last up to three months.
The government also believes a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, will be likely as current plans to avoid widespread checks will prove unsustainable, the Times said.
“Compiled this month by the Cabinet Office under the codename Operation Yellowhammer,
the dossier offers a rare glimpse into the covert planning being carried out by the government to avert a catastrophic collapse in the nation’s infrastructure,” the Times said.
Responding to one of the authors of the Sunday Times article, Gove said: “Yellowhammer is a worst-case scenario — v significant steps have been taken in the last 3 weeks to accelerate Brexit planning.”
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson came under pressure yesterday to immediately recall lawmakers from their summer holiday so parliament can debate Brexit.
More than 100 MPs have written to Johnson to urge him to reconvene and let them sit permanently until October 31 — the date Britain is due to leave the EU.
“Our country is on the brink of an economic crisis, as we career towards a nodeal Brexit,” said the letter, signed by MPs and opposition party leaders who want to halt Britain’s departure from the EU.
Labour main opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to call a vote of no confidence in Johnson’s government after parliament returns.
He hopes to take over as a temporary prime minister, seek an extension to Britain’s EU departure date to stop a no-deal Brexit, and then call a general election.
However, a YouGov survey found that a majority would rather see a no-deal Brexit than the veteran leftist taking over and staging another referendum.
Some 48 per cent said they would rather Britain left the EU without a Brexit deal, with Corbyn remaining in opposition. Some 35 per cent said they would prefer Corbyn became prime minister, and held a second referendum on Britain’s EU membership.