Leaked Britain memos warn of food, fuel, drug shortage in Brexit chaos

London, August 18

Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and medicine if it leaves the European Union without a transition deal, according to leaked official documents reported by the Sunday Times, but whose interpretation was contested by ministers. Setting out a vision of jammed ports, public protests and widespread disruption, the Times said the forecasts compiled by the Cabinet Office set out the most likely aftershocks of a no-deal Brexit rather than the worst case scenarios. 

But Michael Gove, the minister in charge of coordinating no-deal preparations, challenged that, saying that the documents did set out a worst case scenario and that planning had been accelerated in the last three weeks. The Times said up to 85% of lorries using the main channel crossings “may not be ready” for French customs, meaning disruption at ports would potentially last up to three months before the flow of traffic improves. The government also believes a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an EU member, will be likely as current plans to avoid widespread checks will prove unsustainable, the Times said.

Gove said: “Yellowhammer is a worst-case scenario - v significant steps have been taken in the last three weeks to accelerate Brexit planning.” 

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s office said it did not comment on leaked documents. A government source blamed the leak on an unnamed former minister who wanted to influence negotiations with the European Union.

“The documents have been deliberately leaked by a former minister in an attempt to influence discussions with EU leaders,” said the source, who declined to be named. 

The United Kingdom is heading towards a constitutional crisis at home and a showdown with the EU as Johnson has repeatedly vowed to leave the bloc on October 31 without a deal unless it agrees to renegotiate the Brexit divorce. — Reuters

UK to end EU laws

London: Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay has signed an order that will end all European Union laws applying in Britain from October 31, the British government said on Sunday. Barclay has signed into law the legislation to repeal the Act of Parliament which set in stone Britain’s EU membership in 1972, a government statement said. IANS

Renegotiation on Brexit deal?

London: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will tell European Union (EU) leaders that there needs to be a new Brexit deal when he makes his first trip abroad as the Prime Minister later this week. The UK will leave the European Union (EU) on October 31 with or without a deal, Johnson will insist. IANS