No-deal Brexit preparations ramped up
UK Cabinet ministers agreed on Tuesday to accelerate preparations for a no-deal Brexit, including allocating cash from a contingency fund and putting 3,500 armed services personnel on standby to handle any disruptions.
Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said businesses would be sent government advice on how to cope with the UK crashing out of the European Union without any plans in place.
The situation has worsened since May agreed a deal with EU leaders in November, only to pull out of a parliamentary vote last week when she realised it would be defeated heavily and threaten her premiership. An attempt to renegotiate terms with Brussels was publicly rebuffed.
“Cabinet agreed that with just over three months from our exit from the EU, we have now reached the point where we need to ramp up these preparations," the spokesman said.
"This means we will now set in motion the remaining elements of our no-deal plans. Cabinet also agreed to recommend businesses ensure they are similarly prepared enacting their own no-deal plans.”
Ministers also agreed to allocate money from a £2bn contingency fund to departments such as the Home Office and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
May, who had to face down a vote of no confidence last week from her own MPs, has fanned the flames of her opponents' anger by postponing the vote until January 14.
Labour leader Jeremy Corby on Monday tabled a motion of no confidence in the prime minister over her delay in holding the vote.
“It’s bad – unacceptable – that we should be waiting almost a month before we have a meaningful vote on the crucial issue facing the future of this country,” he said.
May pulled a vote on the issue last week when she realised she would lose heavily and jeopardise her premiership.
Many MPs are opposed to the government's withdrawal agreement, especially the so-called backstop agreement to prevent a hard border with Ireland.
May told parliament on Monday that a no-deal Brexit would “risk the jobs, services and security of the people we serve” at the price of “turning our backs on an agreement with our neighbours that honours the referendum and provides for a smooth and orderly exit”.
Corbyn, who has struggled to present a coherent Labour position on Brexit, tabled the motion against May personally, rather than the government. He said MPs had "no confidence in the prime minister due to her failure to allow the House of Commons to have a meaningful vote straightaway".
Conservative ministers in charge of parliamentary business indicated they would not allow time for any debate.
The Labour leader swerved the normal convention of tabling a vote of no confidence in the government, which, if lost by May could trigger a General Election. Any victory for Corbyn would have been embarrassing for the prime minister, but only symbolic for her opponent.