Army reservists on standby for year’s service in event of no deal

BRITISH military reservists could be called up for a year of permanent service as part of Government planning for a no-deal Brexit.

It comes after Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, told MPS last month that 3,500 soldiers and reservists will be “held at readiness” to help in the event the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The official call-up order was confirmed in a written ministerial statement from Mark Lancaster, the Armed Forces minister, yesterday.

“A new order has been made under section 56 (1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable reservists to be called into permanent service in support of Her Majesty’s Government contingency planning for a no-deal EU exit scenario,” the statement said. “Defence is committed to assisting the Cabinet Office coordinated work programme to ensure that there are effective and proportionate contingency plans in place to mitigate the potential immediate impacts leaving the EU, under a ‘no-deal’ scenario, might have on the welfare, health and security of UK citizens and economic stability of the UK.”

Reservists will make up around 10 per cent of the 3,500 military personnel held at readiness ahead of the scheduled Brexit date of March 29. The order will take effect from Feb 10 until Feb 9 next year, with reserve forces “on standby to deliver a range of defence outputs”, as well as supporting “the implementation of contingency plans developed by other government departments”.

Under the Act, the Defence Secretary can call on members of a reserve force to assist on operations outside the UK or “anywhere in the world”, if it is “necessary or desirable”. Section 56 (1B) states that this can be done “for the alleviation of distress or the preserva- tion of life or property in time of disaster or apprehended disaster”.

It is understood the order is not in response to any particular concern, and that the Ministry of Defence has not received any request for troops to be used by other Government departments in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Ian Murray, a Labour MP, said calling up reservists “shows just how serious the threat of a no-deal Brexit is”.

“It is staggering that soldiers are being put on standby because of the risk of a constitutional crisis of the Government’s own making,” he said.

“A no-deal scenario should be ruled out immediately by the Prime Minister, to avoid this chaos. She should take her deal to the public, and agree to a People’s Vote which includes the option of remaining in the EU and avoiding the need for soldiers on the streets.”

Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat Armed Forces spokesman, said: “What kind of message to the country is this? It does nothing to alleviate the worry and uncertainty people feel.”