The Guardian got a hold of the official planning document designed to deal with a no deal Brexit.
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...t-reveals-chaotic-planning-for-no-deal-brexit
Choice quotes:
https://www.theguardian.com/politic...t-reveals-chaotic-planning-for-no-deal-brexit
Choice quotes:
The extent and range of the impact of a no-deal Brexit is revealed in a confidential Cabinet Office document that warns of a "critical three-month phase" after leaving the EU during which the whole planning operation could be overwhelmed.
The classified document, seen by the Guardian, sets out the command and control structures in Whitehall for coping with a no-deal departure and says government departments will have to firefight most problems for themselves – or risk a collapse of "Operation Yellowhammer".
"The … structure will quickly fall if too many decisions are unnecessarily escalated to the top levels that could have reasonably been dealt with internally …" the document says. It also concedes there are "likely to be unforeseen issues and impacts" of a no-deal Brexit that Operation Yellowhammer has been unable to predict.
One source with knowledge of Operation Yellowhammer made clear that while planning had stepped up, the overall picture remained chaotic and "rudderless".
Preparations for no deal have become time-critical because of the political deadlock at Westminster.
Kent county council has run "live" tests to see how schools, hospitals and morgues would cope with 10,000 lorries being parked on roads near to busy ports.
The most important decisions in response to any potential crisis will be taken by the little-known European Union exit and trade (preparedness) subcommittee, which was set up in January, and is chaired by the prime minister.
That will have sweeping powers to intervene and order emergency measures, including mobilising the military, and getting rid of regulations if necessary, the document suggests.
"The committee will be available to take an overview of the situation and make any relevant decisions including on the following areas but not limited to legislation, identifying funding opportunities, allocation of national level resources (such as military, law enforcement or civil service resources, direction of government bodies and relaxation of regulations required at the ministerial level."