UK will pull out of EU meetings in just 10 days
BRITISH officials will stop attending EU meetings from next month, the Brexit Secretary announced last night.
In a clear sign that the Government is determined to fulfil Boris Johnson’s ‘do or die’ pledge to leave on October 31, Steve Barclay said the UK would only attend meetings of ‘significant national interest’.
The move will ‘unshackle’ officials and ministers so they can focus on ‘pioneering new trade deals’, promoting a ‘truly Global Britain’, he said.
It came as the Government continued its efforts to ‘turbocharge’ No Deal preparations, with ports and gateways to the UK handed £9million to prepare for Brexit and a scheme to automatically enrol companies in a
‘Pioneering new trade deals’
customs system unveiled. Mr Barclay said: ‘An incredible amount of time and effort goes into EU meetings.
‘From now on we will only go to the meetings that really matter, reducing attendance by over half and saving hundreds of hours. This will free up time for ministers and their officials to get on with preparing for our departure on 31 October and seizing the opportunities that lie ahead.’
However, Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake described it as a ‘petulant move’, that showed that the Government is ‘not serious about constructively engaging with our EU partners’.
Meanwhile, it was announced last night that local authorities will be handed another £9million to prepare for Brexit, with Kent given £2.6million to keep the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel running smoothly.
The extra funding follows a £20million funding boost earlier this month for councils to ramp up preparations by appointing a Brexit lead officer.
Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick said: ‘ From keeping our supply chains running and ensuring goods continue to flow into the country, to putting robust plans in place for every community, local government is playing a vital role in preparing the country to leave the EU on October 31.’ Meanwhile, around 90,000 VAT-registered companies will be allocated identification numbers so they can keep trading with the EU after the UK has left.
Ministers are fighting off fears Britain is not ready for a No Deal departure after leaked documents revealed Whitehall was braced for a three-month meltdown. Last night the BBC reported details of ramped up contingency planning by councils, with warnings over the future of the UK’s fuel refineries.