GOVE: MINISTERS DOING ‘EVERYTHING POSSIBLE’

CABINET minister Michael Gove has said the Government is doing “everything possible” to ensure Britain is ready to leave the EU at the end of October “come what may”.

Mr Gove, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in charge of no-deal preparations, said he was confident the country’s food system would be able to cope if the UK was unable to strike a new agreement with the EU.

His intervention came amid fresh warnings that business did not have time to prepare for a no-deal break on October 31 with delays at the seaports and a lack of warehouse space to store essential food supplies.

The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) disclosed that it had asked the Government to set aside elements of competition law to allow firms to work together to co-ordinate and direct supplies. And the Road Haulage Association (RHA) warned that hauliers risked going out of business because they would be unable to cope with lengthy delays expected at the borders.

Mr Gove, who was in the Port of Dover with Home Secretary Priti Patel and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps to inspect the Brexit preparations, said ministers were constantly talking to industry and suppliers about what measures were needed.

However he acknowledged that it would require the co-operation of EU countries like France if trade was to continue to flow smoothly after a no-deal Brexit.

“I think it’s important we work with the French and others to ensure the smoothest possible exit from the European Union,” he said. “In the event of no deal, of course the EU has its obligations, but we here in the UK are doing everything possible in order to make sure that we are ready come what may to leave on October 31 and to honour the instruction of the British people.”

In response to the FDF call for the competition laws to be relaxed, Mr Gove insisted the food supply chain would be to cope.

“I’m confident, because the UK has a very resilient food supply system, that actually we will be able to make sure that people have a wide range and all the choice that they need.”