THE Prime Minister has quietly set up a unit to deal with the UK Government’s “nightmare scenario” of a No-Deal Brexit, a post-Christmas surge in coronavirus cases and bad weather over the winter, it has emerged.

Downing Street’s new “winter control and co-ordination cell” will secretly brief Boris Johnson on the threats in the coming months, according to a report in The Times.

A Whitehall source told the newspaper: “Winter is always one of the most challenging times for the Government, with pressures on the NHS alongside the risk of things like adverse weather events.

“The question is what happens when you combine all that with Covid and a No-Deal Brexit.”

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With Johnson set to meet with Ursula Von Der Leyen in Brussels later in an effort to secure a last-ditch EU trade agreement, the launch of the unit prompts questions over the state of negotiations.

EU sources say that the chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, has told ministers that talks are “tilting towards No Deal being reached before the deadline”.

Downing Street officials are reportedly privately accepting that a No-Deal exit would lead to widespread disruption.

The Scottish Government is currently ramping up work to secure food and essential supplies in the case of a No-Deal.

Ministers are working with supermarkets, businesses and banks to ease disruption.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development has warned that without a deal the UK’s Covid-19 economic recovery risks being derailed.