Troops could patrol borders ‘as last resort’ if there is no deal
SOLDIERS could police borders if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, it was revealed yesterday.
Using the Armed Forces to check travellers and goods at ports and airports could not be ruled out, the Home Office’s top civil servant said.
Meanwhile, a Cabinet split appeared to emerge over whether Britain could walk away without a deal.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd said the prospect of Brexit without any agreement – at least covering security – was ‘unthinkable’.
But Brexit Secretary David Davis insisted the ‘no deal’ option would remain open.
Home Office permanent secretary Philip Rutnam told MPs on the Commons’ home affairs committee that the Army could provide boots on the ground at borders.
The military has been deployed before to cover shortfalls, notably at the 2012 Olympics when private firm G4S failed to train enough security staff. Mr Rutnam said: ‘I think it would be unwise to rule anything out. It seems to me clear that any use of the military would be an absolute last resort.
‘Our strong preference is to deal with the security that’s needed at the border through Border Force and that is the basis on which our planning is proceeding.’ He was not referring to the boundary between Northern Ireland and the EU which the Government insists needs to stay clear of border posts. Officials are set to recruit 300 Border Force personnel to be in place by September next year.
It comes a week after a former head of the Home Office’s immigration enforcement raised doubts over the ability to meet challenges of Brexit without extra staff. Earlier, Miss Rudd appeared to undermine the Govern- ment’s position that ‘no deal is better than a bad deal’.
She insisted there would be an agreement with the remaining 27 EU members on security co- operation at a time of heightened threat.
The high-profile Remain campaigner said: ‘I think it is unthinkable there would be no deal. It is so much in their interests as well as ours – in their communities’, families’, tourists’ interests to have something in place.
‘We will make sure there is something between them and us to maintain our security.’
An hour earlier, Mr Davis had told the Commons that it was necessary to keep the option of no deal open.
He said the UK was ‘straining every sinew’ to reach an agreement with the EU, but it was necessary to prepare for all outcomes.
Miss Rudd also told MPs that the registration of EU nationals in Britain would begin by the end of next year with the Home Office’s ‘default position’ to accept applications for settled status.
‘Straining every sinew’