No-deal planning to be top priority for Cabinet

Steven Swinford

Christopher Hope PLANNING for a no-deal Brexit is now a top priority for the Government and non-essential business will be suspended, the Cabinet will be told today.

Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Secretary, will unveil plans to step up no-deal planning, saying that it will now be considered a “default” option if Parliament is unable to sign off a deal.

Any government business which is not considered essential will be cancelled, and the Cabinet will discuss how the £2billion committed to funding preparations for a no-deal Brexit should be spent.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The closer we get to March 29, the more decisions will have to be taken [so that] we are prepared for a no-deal scenario.”

Separately, the Government has won agreement to remain in an arrangement to ensure that goods can move freely between the UK and EU after Brexit in the event of a no-deal.

The Treasury said the UK will remain in the Common Transit Convention, ensuring simplified cross-border trade for UK exporters.

The convention is used for moving goods between EU member states, the EFTA countries – Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland – Turkey, Macedonia and Serbia.

Mel Stride, the financial secretary to the Treasury, said: “We are a great trading nation and our goods are in demand all over the world.

“That’s why we are committed to ensuring that trade can continue to flow with as little friction as possible when we leave the EU.

“Membership of the convention will support traders both under a new trade agreement with the EU, or in the unlikely event of no deal.

“This gives businesses the continuity and certainty that they need to plan for the future.”