WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?
With just 100 days to Brexit, our ministers FINALLY prepare for No Deal
CABINET ministers finally woke up yesterday after weeks of bickering and sat down to start preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
Theresa May said the Government will “ramp up” planning after ministers agreed to make it an “operational priority”.
The Prime Minister’s Brexit deal remains the preferred outcome for the Government but with just 100 days until the UK’s departure from the bloc the intensity of preparations for leaving without a deal in March 2019 will increase.
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay stressed that unless MPs back Mrs May’s deal when it returns to the Commons in January the default option is for the UK to leave without any arrangement for exiting in place.
Last night, though, sceptics argued the no deal planning was window dressing and ministers were manoeuvring public opinion.
But speaking after the Cabinet agreement, Mr Barclay said: “Parliament needs to back the deal because the consequence of not doing so is we risk the default of no deal, and a responsible government must prepare for that eventuality. ”
He dismissed alternative plans being pushed by ministers – including a second referendum or a “managed” no-deal under which arrangements are made with Brussels to limit any negative impacts of severing ties with the EU.
In a direct plea to the UK’s business community he urged company bosses to make sure they were ready for a no-deal Brexit, saying it needs to be “much more of a priority for businesses”.
Some 3,500 troops will be on stand-by to help deal with the impact of a no-deal Brexit, it emerged.
In the Commons, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said the MoD confirmed: “We have 3,500 service personnel held at readiness in order to support any Government department”.