Brexit

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A Brexit preparation document leaked to the Sunday Times (paywall) reveals a government bracing for the worst. The leak comes as prime minister Boris Johnson doubles down on his vow to leave the European Union on Oct. 31 with or without a deal. The document, which appears to have been written just this month by the Cabinet Office and marked “official-sensitive,” lists key planning assumptions and details the likely repercussions of a no-deal Brexit. Among them: fuel, food, and medicine shortages, rising costs of social care, significant port disruptions, and a hard border with Ireland. “This is not Project Fear—this is the most realistic assessment of what the public face with no deal. These are likely, basic, reasonable scenarios—not the worst case,” a senior government source told the Sunday Times. The report is one of the first times that the government has shown that it assumes a no-deal Brexit. And, worryingly, the document states that both the public and businesses are unprepared for a no-deal scenario, in part because of “EU Exit fatigue” following the extension of the divorce date from March to Oct. 31. Here are some of the ways they anticipate a hard Brexit will affect British industries and people.

 Brexit document leak shows the UK anticipates the worst — Quartz

Fresh doubts have been cast over Boris Johnson’s commitment to securing a Brexit deal after the government said it would not delay the UK’s departure from the EU even to give parliament time to approve a new agreement. Mr Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, ruled out a so-called “technical extension” during talks in Brussels this week, according to a leaked diplomatic memo seen by The Independent. It raises the prospect that parliament could run out of time to ratify a Brexit deal even if the prime minister manages to secure a new agreement with Brussels.

 Brexit: Fresh doubts over Boris Johnson’s commitment to deal after extension ruled out | The Independent

The reports today that Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson‘s top aide, described Brexit talks as “a sham” in a strategy meeting have shed a new light on Brexit talks – and whether the government is telling the truth about its strategy. The prime minister says the governments wants a deal, but appears to be making no real effort to get one.  Downing Street denies the leaks – but they certainly tally with what we’re hearing in Brussels.

 Has Boris Johnson misled voters over ‘sham’ Brexit talks? | The Independent