PEOPLE should take “reassurance and comfort” from Conservative government preparations for a no-deal Brexit, Theresa May has said after it emerged food and medicines are being stockpiled.
In an interview yesterday, May insisted ministers were being “responsible and sensible” while still trying to get a good deal with the European Union.
Her remarks following comments made by Health Secretary Matt Hancock who told MPs on Tuesday he had asked officials to “work up options for stockpiling” by the pharmaceutical industry, and Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the Government would also take steps to ensure an “adequate food supply”.
READ MORE: Food expert warns Brexit could lead to rationing ... and the UK is 'less prepared than in 1939'
Earlier yesterday Irish Tanaiste, or deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney said he did not “believe that Britain can afford a no-deal Brexit”, and dismissed as “bravado” from Brexiteers who claim such a scenario would be acceptable.
Speaking to 5 News, May said: “Far from being worried about preparations that we are making, I would say that people should take reassurance and comfort from the fact that the Government is saying we are in a negotiation, we are working for a good deal – I believe we can get a good deal – but ... because we don’t know what the outcome is going to be ... let’s prepare for every eventuality.
“This is not just about stockpiling. That concept, what it is, is about making sure that we will be able to continue to do the things that are necessary once we have left the European Union, if we leave without a deal.”
The Prime Minister’s comments came as a new poll suggests trust in her ability to handle Brexit is falling. A Guardian/ICM survey found she had an eight-point lead over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn over who could be trusted to negotiate a good Brexit deal, but this was down from 16 points in January and 34 points before the 2017 General Election.
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Chancellor Philip Hammond said it is “sensible and responsible” the Government is working with industry to stockpile certain vital supplies for the event of a no deal.
Speaking during a visit to the Bombardier aircraft factory in Belfast yesterday, he said: “That’s a sensible and responsible thing for a Government to do and large businesses who are importing or exporting large volumes of products or produce will be making contingency plans, and we would encourage them to do so and work closely with them as they are putting those plans together.”
He ruled out extending the Article 50 process to give more time to negotiate withdrawal from the EU after Coveney said it would support such a move if the UK requested it.
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The developments came as talks continued in Brussels, with a meeting between EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Raab scheduled for today. May confirmed on Tuesday she had taken personal charge of the negotiations, with Raab “deputising” for her in Brussels.
Tory Eurosceptics have voiced concerns that Raab’s department has been sidelined by No 10 and May’s Europe adviser Olly Robbins amid increasing speculation that divisions within the Conservative camp may result in no deal.
Coveney confirmed Dublin is also making contingency plans, but he remained confident a deal would be reached.
Speaking after a British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London, he said: “We need to be focusing on the intensification of negotiations to try and find the solutions on a way forward, as opposed to the sort of tough stance that some people feel the need to take in relation to saying ‘well do your worst, we can deal with a [no-deal] situation’. That isn’t going to solve this problem.”
Ahead of the talks he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “The truth is I don’t believe Britain can afford a no-deal Brexit, I don’t believe Ireland or the EU want that either.
“The negative implications of a no-deal Brexit are very significant for Ireland and the UK. We all have an obligation to make sure that doesn’t happen.
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I think it’s very unlikely to happen.”
Coveney said the UK had been “negotiating with itself” in the six months before the publication of the White Paper and the EU now had clarity in terms of what the UK Government was asking for.
“I think there are elements of that that would be difficult to negotiate ... but I think it is easier to achieve now,” he said.
He dismissed a suggestion an amendment to Brexit legislation – making a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK illegal and forced on May – would prevent agreement on a “backstop” arrangement for the Irish border.
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