FOOD & DRUG STOCKPILES FOR NO-DEAL

Shortages fear after exiting EU

BRITAIN could run out of drugs and ministers could have to build emergency supplies of food under a no-deal Brexit, MPs were told.

Ministers fuelled fresh fears last night over an exit where the UK crashes out of the EU without a pact.

It follows claims the Government is considering creating food mountains ready for when Britain formally quits the bloc next March.

The deadline for striking an outline pact with Brussels is just 12 weeks away – forcing Theresa May to take personal control of negotiations.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab told the Commons Brexit Select Committee it was “wrong to describe it as the Government stockpiling”.

He said: “What we will make sure – and the idea that we only get food imports into this country from one continent is not appropriate – but we will look at this issue and make sure that there is adequate food supply.” He pledged to reveal further details in a “responsible fashion” later.

Green MP Caroline Lucas, of the People’s Vote campaign, said: “Since the referendum, we’ve gone from, ‘There is no downside to Brexit, only a significant upside’, to the Government warning that we might not have enough food to go around.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the Commons Health Committee of plans to fly in medicines to treat millions of patients. He said: “Any responsible government has to prepare for a number of outcomes.”

■ JEREMY Corbyn says Labour would invest in manufacturing, building things in Britain that “for too long have been built abroad”.