Watchdog chief slams ‘vague’ plan for exiting EU

THE head of Parliament’s spending watchdog was under fire last night after warning the Government’s Brexit plans could fall apart ‘like a chocolate orange’.

Sir Amyas Morse savaged the Government’s ‘vague’ preparations for Brexit and warned that customs controls could become ‘a horror show’.

Government sources said he was ‘ completely wrong’. Former Brexit minister David Jones described his comments as ‘grossly unfair’.

Sir Amyas, head of the National Audit Office, admitted his comments were unusual for a neutral public servant.

But he said he ‘wouldn’t be speaking like this’ if he believed the coordinated support needed across government to deal with Brexit was in place.

Last July, the ex-accountant described Brexit as a ‘tidal wave’, adding: ‘You can truly use the word emergency.’

The NAO today publishes a critical assessment of plans by HMRC for the introduction of a new customs regime. An HMRC spokesman said the service ‘remains fully capable’ of dealing with the impact of Brexit.

A Government spokesman said: ‘The whole government is alive to the task ahead and working together to deliver on the will of the British people.’