BREXIT: ARMY AT READY
Troops poised for no-deal ‘chaos’ as PM warns rebels could halt pullout
TROOPS have been put on standby to combat any chaos of a no-deal Brexit.
The military may be called on to quell civil unrest, ease traffic jams at ports and fly in medicines amid shortages.
Labour said: “This is an admission of failure.” It came as Theresa May warned ousting her could stall Brexit.
CIVIL unrest on the streets, a shortage of medicines, fuel and food and our ports and airports at a standstill… it sounds like a Project Fear description of a post-Brexit nightmare scenario.
But ministers are so worried about the effect of a no-deal on Britain, they have put the Army on standby to deal with any potential flashpoints caused by the country crashing out of Europe.
Soldiers from Operation Temperer, who normally help police with the aftermath of terror attacks, have been drafted in to discuss a range of issues, including distributing drugs, guarding petrol stations against possible fuel riots and helping with border controls.
News of military involvement in planning for a no-deal last night sparked fury, with one critic branding Theresa May’s Brexit plans “chaotic”.
It comes after another day of high political drama in which:
■ Mrs May warned a successful vote of no-confidence in her would kill off chances of a March Brexit
■ The EU said delays to quitting could cost UK a further £10billion
■ Jeremy Corbyn demanded the PM returns to Brussels to renegotiate her deal with the EU that has been widely panned by both Leave and Remain
Mrs May said yesterday: “A change of leadership at this point isn’t going to make the negotiations any easier.
“What it will do is bring in a degree of uncertainty, that’s uncertainty for people and their jobs.
“It will be a risk if we delay those negotiations, and that’s a risk if Brexit gets delayed and frustrated.”
The PM was yesterday sweating on whether the number of letters from Tory MPs needed for a no-confidence vote will reach the required 48.
Last night, only 25 had confirmed they had written to Sir Graham Brady, chair of the 1922 committee, which oversees leader’s appointments and dismissals. It meant hopes were fading of them getting a vote to oust her as early as today. And Sir Graham predicted it would be “very likely” the PM would win such a vote.
But Jeremy Corbyn kept up the pressure on his rival with demands that she goes back to the EU to renegotiate her botched, worst of all worlds deal”. Writing in the Mirror, the Labour leader said Mrs May had succeeded in uniting Britain by “bringing back a deal from Brussels everyone dislikes”. The PM will today insist she can come back from next Sunday’s meeting of national leaders with a deal she can put before MPs.
In a London speech at the Confederation of British Industry, Mrs May is to fall back on the subject of immigration in a bid to win more backing for her Brexit plans – which include a “single customs territory” between Brussels and UK. She will insist her deal gives her the power to end the open door to EU migrants. But with her own party split on the matter and Labour vowing to
vote against her plans, a no-deal Brexit is still possible.
And critics said bringing in the Army to discuss fears of what will happen on the streets after such a move proves she is admitting how damaging crashing out of Europe could be. Labour MP Alex Sobel said: “This just goes to show how unprepared the Government are for a no-deal Brexit.
“This only serves to underline the chaotic nature of this Tory Brexit. Putting the Army on standby is an admission of complete failure.”
Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: “To hear the Conservatives believe they must plan to send troops on to the streets to keep order reveals the sheer scale of their incompetence and how damaging they now realise Brexit might be.”
The People’s Vote campaign added:
A plan to send troops on to the streets reveals how damaging Tories realise Brexit may be ED DAVEY LIB DEM HOME AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN YESTERDAY
“Brexit is such a mess even the SAS couldn’t sort it out.”
Around 10,000 military personnel are available to assist with emergencies. It is understood the team, working from Army HQ in Andover, Hants, is focusing on public order.
Troops could help ease traffic in Kent as queues of vehicles wait for border checks at ferry ports. Disused RAF Manston in Thanet may be used as an overspill lorry park to take the pressure off motorways. The RAF could also help with passport control at crowded airports. It is also preparing to airlift urgent medical supplies from California. Army infantry battalions will be drafted into petrol stations in the event of civil unrest caused by panic buying of fuel. The Navy will increase fishery patrols.
A senior Army source said: “We don’t actually know what a no-deal scenario would entail. But the Home Office needs to know that, if it chooses to make a request for military support after March, we can provide it.”
Army chief General Sir Nick Carter has revealed the military was “thinking hard” about what a no-deal scenario might involve.
Defence minister Tobias Ellwood said: “There are contingency plans being made as to what support our armed forces will provide.”
UNLESS or until Theresa May calls out the Brexit elite’s liars she’ll remain trapped like a rat in a wheel.
Running hard to avoid falling over is a bad choice for a Prime Minister who’ll know privately her unpopular, chaotic plan is a far worse deal for Britain than remaining in Europe.
Surrendering sovereignty to minimise economic damage is May’s cowardly compromise. A braver PM would denounce forcefully the cost-free easy Britannia bonanza fabricated by fibbers Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, then champion another referendum.
The uncomfortable home truths about stockpiling medicines and food as well as troops on the streets put into perspective the Leavers’ mythical £350million a week saving promise on the side of a bus.
Timid Theresa May doesn’t come clean because she’s afraid of insulting five Cabinet Brextremists organising against her including Michael Gove and a Liam Fox suddenly believing any deal’s better than no deal.
She might survive a no-confidence vote of Conservative MPs in the coming weeks. But May is not strong and stable. She is living to die another day and her botched plan is barely worth the name.
So a sovereign Parliament gains a glorious opportunity to take back control next month.
Jeremy Corbyn’s immediate task is to convince his Westminster waverers the choice isn’t May’s mess or accidentally crashing out of Europe without a lifeline. Tory Leaver Zac Goldsmith declaring he’d have voted Remain in place of May’s mayhem. Brexit paymaster Arron Banks said last Sunday he’d do the same. They are rats abandoning the Quitter ship. The 700,000 who marched in London for another referendum were mocked as the longest Waitrose queue in history yet UKIP MEP Patrick O’Flynn attracting just four people to his protest outside No 10 was another sign which camp has the momentum.
Time is running out but anything is possible before March 29 – an extension before departure, a referendum, a general election. The only certainty is the future’s unpredictability.