UK faces food, fuel and drugs shortages in no-deal Brexit: Times, citing official documents

[rooster59]

UK faces food, fuel and drugs shortages in no-deal Brexit: Times, citing official documents

Kate Holton

 

FILE PHOTO: An anti-Brexit protester is seen outside the Cabinet Office in London, Britain July 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and medicine if it leaves the European Union without a transition deal, jamming ports and requiring a hard border in Ireland, official government documents leaked to the Sunday Times show.

 

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.

 

They said up to 85% of trucks 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 will be likely as current plans to avoid widespread checks will prove unsustainable, the Times said.

 

“Compiled this month by the Cabinet Office under the codename Operation Yellowhammer, the dossier offers a rare glimpse into the covert planning being carried out by the government to avert a catastrophic collapse in the nation’s infrastructure,” the Times reported.

 

“The file, marked “official-sensitive” — requiring security clearance on a “need to know” basis — is remarkable because it gives the most comprehensive assessment of the UK’s readiness for a no-deal Brexit.”

 

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

 

After more than three years of Brexit dominating EU affairs, the bloc has repeatedly refused to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement which includes an Irish border insurance policy that Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, agreed in November.

 

Johnson will this week tell French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the Westminster parliament cannot stop Brexit and a new deal must be agreed if Britain is to avoid leaving the EU without one.

 

The prime minister is coming under pressure from politicians across the political spectrum to prevent a disorderly departure, with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn vowing this week to bring down Johnson’s government in early September to delay Brexit.

 

It is, however, unclear if lawmakers have the unity or power to use the British parliament to prevent a no-deal departure - likely to be the United Kingdom’s most significant move since World War Two.

 

Opponents of no deal say it would be a disaster for what was once one of the West’s most stable democracies. A disorderly divorce, they say, would hurt global growth, send shockwaves through financial markets and weaken London’s claim to be the world’s preeminent financial center.

 

Brexit supporters say there may be short-term disruption from a no-deal exit but that the economy will thrive if cut free from what they cast as a doomed experiment in integration that has led to Europe falling behind China and the United States.

 

Editing by Guy Faulconbridge

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-08-18

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[welovesundaysatspace]

This must be pretty confusing for the Brexiteers. Not May’s traitors and remainers cabinet anymore but still Project Fear? 

[Denim]

The real worry is that if the UK severes its links with Europe it will inevitably sink deeper into the English channel and millions of people could drown . Why aren't they aware of this threat and why aren't we preparing for it by stock piling rubber rings etc.

[baansgr]

14 minutes ago, Denim said:

The real worry is that if the UK severes its links with Europe it will inevitably sink deeper into the English channel and millions of people could drown . Why aren't they aware of this threat and why aren't we preparing for it by stock piling rubber rings etc.

Compiled this month...

Considering holidays and the time it would take to compile such a report seems to suggest this is false reporting and is based on documents released almost a year ago

[Jip99]

15 minutes ago, Denim said:

The real worry is that if the UK severs its links with Europe it will inevitably sink deeper into the English channel and millions of people could drown . Why aren't they aware of this threat and why aren't we preparing for it by stock piling rubber rings etc.

 

 

Poor advice Denim, you are clutching at straws - we are all doomed anyway.

 

 

I've seen the film 2012............................ you can't stop a cataclysmic event, and it is too late to build an ark!

[evadgib]

The current govt has taken to dismantling misleading press reports. I haven't bothered to look at this one in detail but if it's misleading I expect the trend to continue.

Edited August 18, 2019 by evadgib

[ThaiBunny]

There's a great article on Brexit jargon in this weekend's Financial Times - https://www.ft.com/content/2adc548a-be25-11e9-b350-db00d509634e

I'm not sure if it's behind a paywall, but the key phrases dissected (and demolished) are -

• Let’s have a bit more belief in Britain
• Talking down the country
• Bringing the Queen into politics ("The government has a team of advisers watching to make sure she doesn't just hop on a Eurostar to Brussels and revoke Article 50") 
• Sweeping away years of parliamentary conventions ("This is another thing that is bad except when your side does it, in which case it is called modernisation")
• Do or die
• Standing Order 48
• The people versus the politicians (my favourite - "a phrase used entirely by politicians rather than people")

Edited August 18, 2019 by ThaiBunny

[thonglorjimmy]

37 minutes ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

Not May’s traitors and remainers cabinet anymore but still Project Fear? 

Or maybe Project Reality, time will tell.

[brokenbone]

diversity will go down while the market adjust,

and a large numbers of items will eventually cost more,

once they found their way back through new channels

 

[zorrow424]

9 minutes ago, brokenbone said:

diversity will go down while the market adjust,

and a large numbers of items will eventually cost more,

once they found their way back through new channels

 

This is a good quote,thanks. 

  Shipping companies have been approached as to bringing produce back to UK via refrigerated container ships from the likes of mid western African countries that produced in huge quantities before the french CAP,will destroy Spain though

  Into Southampton /Liverpool  onto rail system for distribution,freeing up UK roads from foreign truckers    Ideal situation   sailing through Biscay will be quicker too after WTO checking of land transport

[evadgib]

Some Debunkery for a no news day:

 

New service to deliver urgent medicines and medical products into UK

 

One million granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme

 

International Development Secretary letter to civil society organisations about the Government’s planning for Brexit

 

Fishermen in over 12m fleet urged to register now to be ready for EU exit

 

HMG seem to be getting on with it no matter how hard Dom-the-Weasel and Co try to scupper them.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, evadgib said:

Some Debunkery for a no news day:

 

New service to deliver urgent medicines and medical products into UK

 

One million granted status under the EU Settlement Scheme

 

International Development Secretary letter to civil society organisations about the Government’s planning for Brexit

 

Fishermen in over 12m fleet urged to register now to be ready for EU exit

 

HMG seem to be getting on with it no matter how hard Dom-the-Weasel and Co try to scupper them.

All government propaganda. 

 

Links cut, pasted without any analysis of the veracity of the government statements despite the report of shortages at the head of this topic being based on a Government report. 

[ivor bigun]

Is it true that we wont have electricity after Brexit and water will be rationed?
Oh God i just heard the production of marmite is to be stopped.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Topdoc]

A bit less food might be just what's needed for the lady in blue

[Sydebolle]

Well, the allied forces fed Berlin in 1948 with an air bridge and that answers it.

All real undiluted bol"*ç%*"cks, all those suppliers of whatever it is are interested to keep on supplying, be it overland (i.e. the tunnel), boat or air in as much as the UK will be interested in buying. It works both ways, I wonder if Juncker and his cronies would put a penalty tax of 50'000% on Twinings Tea or After Eight chocolate.

Don't get carried away by these clowns in Brussels or the "stayers" within the UK - carry on executing the peoples will - everything else will fall into place. 

[David in the north]

No word on the rivers flowing with blood, plagues of locusts etc..
Very poor reporting.................................

[Percy P]

3 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

This must be pretty confusing for the Brexiteers. Not May’s traitors and remainers cabinet anymore but still Project Fear? 

Can't be any worse then after the 1st, 2nd world wars. Started by our European neighbours Germany

[Percy P]

3 hours ago, Denim said:

The real worry is that if the UK severes its links with Europe it will inevitably sink deeper into the English channel and millions of people could drown . Why aren't they aware of this threat and why aren't we preparing for it by stock piling rubber rings etc.

Because millions can now swim.

[Pedrogaz]

They've had 3 years to prepare for this. The Tory government has been shameful in not planning for it. If we had done no deal and spent 2 1/2 years to end of March 2019 planning, everything would be fantastic now, the pound would be surging and we would be totally free of Brussels and the poor quality, undemocratic, leadership there. Juncker as President? What were they thinking. Stinking of alcohol at every meeting, slurring his words. Forgive me if I am not impressed.

[Mavideol]

nah... fake news, project fear in the works, nothing else, all will be fine, just like jumping off the train  555

[JHolmesJr]

Everything will be fine. Just go ahead with it.

Ignore the fake cries  of Armageddon.

[stephenterry]

Well, of course there are going to be shortages. That's one consequence of leaving the EU. If it's a no-deal scenario with no transitional period, even rationing could occur.

 

Trouble is, the UK population, having been brought up to expect everything and anything would be available for the rest of their natural will get a rude awakening, especially with a lesser support from the NHS services. And, as in the 70's long queues at petrol stations and supermarkets. 

 

Can the UK survive it? Of course - WITH A PLAN IN PLACE which is lacking. The Tory government just hasn't got its act together. Makes me sick.

 

[howbri]

The same was predicted when Trump was elected. Now, all we have is the greatest economy in American AND world history. Chicken little lives on.

[TopDeadSenter]

1 hour ago, JHolmesJr said:

Everything will be fine. Just go ahead with it.

Ignore the fake cries  of Armageddon.

Reminds me of the Y2K hysteria, all the planes would fall out the sky at midnight. As with Y2K Brexit will pass largely un-noticed by man on the street. The scare tactics have long proven ineffective.

[OneMoreFarang]

And that is news?

It's well known since a long time. Maybe a year or more.

But then, some people still ignore well known facts.

[Russ McD]

Harks back to 1999 ... just how much did they spend on preparing us for the "Millenium bug".

Remember the prophecies of a UK meltdown at the turn of the Century ... computers crashing ... planes falling out the sky.

And what happened ... nothing ... life carried on as before.

 

.... ha, just seen Topdeadsenter shares my sentiments. 

Edited August 18, 2019 by Russ McD
just read earlier post.

[HeyHeyHey]

7 hours ago, rooster59 said:

FILE PHOTO: An anti-Brexit protester is seen outside the Cabinet Office in London, Britain July 29, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

Lady, you NEED lack of food and vehicles! Thanks Boris!

[hotchilli]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

UK faces food, fuel and drugs shortages in no-deal Brexit: Times, citing official documents

More scaremongering amongst those wishing to stay in the EU

 

[Handsome Gardener]

6 hours ago, evadgib said:

The current govt has taken to dismantling misleading press reports. I haven't bothered to look at this one in detail but if it's misleading I expect the trend to continue.

The same government that gave us the bus ? How misleading was that ?

 

If you don't bother to read the articles you will never learn - that would be a missed opportunity

[darksidedog]

An off topic flaming post and a reply have been removed.

Please stick to the topic and avoid personal comments and abuse or warnings will follow.