UK's worst-case no-deal Brexit plan warns of food shortages, disorder
LONDON: The British government's plans for a no-deal Brexit warn of severe disruption to cross-Channel routes, affecting the supply of medicines and certain types of fresh foods, and say that protests and counter-protests will take place across the country, accompanied by a possible rise in public disorder.
The "Operation Yellowhammer" worst-case assumptions published on Wednesday were prepared on Aug 2, the government said, nine days after Mr Boris Johnson became prime minister, and form the basis of its no-deal planning.
CONFUSION
The document, which looks at the worst that could happen if Britain leaves the European Union on Oct 31 without a deal, said public and business readiness for such an outcome would likely be low, in part because of continued political confusion.
It said lorries could have to wait up to 2½ days to cross the English Channel and British citizens could be subject to increased immigration checks at EU border posts.
"Certain types of fresh food supply will decrease," it said. "There is a risk that panic buying will cause or exacerbate food supply disruption."
It said the flow of traffic across the English channel could be reduced by as much as 60 per cent on the first day after a no-deal Brexit.
The worst disruption could last for up to three months.
Traffic queues could affect fuel deliveries, disrupting supplies in London and south-east England, and panic-buying could cause shortages in other parts of the country, it said.
Cross-border financial services would be affected as would information-sharing between police and security services, the document said.
Documents from Operation Yellowhammer were first published in the Sunday Times newspaper on Aug 18.
Mr Michael Gove, the minister in charge of coordinating "no-deal" preparations, said then that the document was old and did not reflect current levels of preparedness.
He said on Wednesday that assumptions in the document were being reviewed, but they were the most recent complete iteration of the plans.
Labour's Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said: "It is completely irresponsible for the government to have tried to ignore these stark warnings and prevent the public from seeing the evidence.
"Boris Johnson must now admit that he has been dishonest with the British people about the consequence of a No-Deal Brexit." - REUTERS
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now
