Rudd: Army may guard our borders
THE Government is prepared to call on the Army as a “last resort” to help to man the borders in the event of “no deal” with the EU.
In a warning shot to Brussels, Home Secretary Amber Rudd told MPs that Britain’s borders will be prepared for Brexit whatever the circumstances.
Speaking to the Home Affairs Select Committee, Ms Rudd revealed that 1,200 case workers are being recruited to deal with EU citizens, while another 300 Border Force staff will be in place by next September.
Meanwhile, the Home Office’s most senior civil servant, Philip Rutnam, said the department plans to use the Army “as a last resort” as a temporary measure when the UK leaves the EU.
Questioned by the chairwoman, Labour MP Yvette Cooper, Ms Rudd told the committee that the UK will be “prepared from day one” of Brexit in 29 March 2019.
She said: “We have made preparations for registering EU citizens in the UK and have said that during a transition period we would also expect the people coming to be able to register.
“That will be the case irrespective of whether a deal is in place.”
The Government intends to unveil its new immigration system in a White Paper at the end of the year, she added.
Her words come as a warning to negotiators in Brussels, as the UK Government prepares to walk out of talks if the EU refuses to move on to trade negotiations by the end of the year.