mirror.co.uk MONDAY 19.08.2019 DAILY MIRROR^13
DM1STPAPER ON NO-DEAL BREXIT
“very little discussion” of Brexit during
the visits, expecting each side to state
its position then turn to other topics.
The leaders will meet again at the
G7 summit in Biarritz, France, this
weekend. Meanwhile, Brexit Secretary
Stephen Barclay has signed the
“commencement order” that will
trigger the end of the supremacy of EU
law in the UK on October 31.
[email protected] @benglaze
VOICE OF THE MIRROR: PAGE 8possibility that Parliament can block
Brexit on October 31”. Mr Johnson
embarks on a tour of European capi-
tals this week in his first foreign trips
since becoming PM. He flies to Berlin
on Wednesday for talks with German
Chancellor Angela Merkel, then jets to
Paris for meetings with French Presi-
dent Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.
The PM is expected to say Parlia-
ment will not cancel the result of the
referendum. However, No10 expectsaxed rather than reopen the doomed
deal. A Downing Street source
accused Tory Remainers of “appalling
dishonesty” for attempting to use a
delay to “cancel the referendum”.
And Mr Johnson launched an
unprecedented attack on the MPs
bidding to stop a no-deal departure.
The PM claimed it was “as plain as
a pikestaff that Brussels - or the EU 27- will simply not compromise as long
as they believe there is the faintest
at attempts by MPs to block
a no-deal exit. Downing
Street believes EU leaders
will only renegotiate the
Withdrawal Agreement –
which has been defeated
three times in the Commons – if they
think the Government is serious
about quitting without a deal.
No10 fears that by stripping the
option from the table, MPs are encour-
aging Brussels to think Brexit can bemongering around and a lot
of people are playing into
Project Fear.”
But a senior Whitehall
source told The Sunday
Times, which revealed the
Yellowhammer file: “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.” No10 is increasingly frustrated73
BREXIT
DAYS TO GO
LORRIES using Channel ports
may not be ready for French
customs checks.
“The lack of traders’
readiness combined with
limited space in French ports to hold HGVs
could reduce [traffic] flow rates to
40%-60% of current levels within a day.
“The worst disruption might continue for
three months before flow rates rise to
50%-70%, although disruption could
continue for much longer.
“The French might act to ensure some
flow through the crossings. HGVs could face
a maximum delay of one and a half to two
and a half days to cross the border.”PETROL supplies could be hit,
oil refineries could shut and
2,000 workers lose their jobs.
Panic-buying could create
shortages, such as those seen
during the 2000 fuel crisis.
The briefing says: “Traffic disruption
caused by border delays could affect fuel
distribution in the local area, particularly if
traffic queues in Kent block the Dartford
Crossing, which would disrupt fuel supply in
London and the South East.
“Customer behaviour could lead to
shortages in other parts of the country.”
Strikes over job losses at refineries could
unleash disruption for two weeks.ABOUT 300 foreign boats
could be illegally fishing in UK
waters under a no-deal.
They include up to 129
vessels in English waters, 100
off Scotland, 40 off Wales and 13 in
Northern Irish waters, the day after Brexit.
“This is likely to cause anger and
frustration, which could lead to clashes
between fishing vessels and an increase in
non-compliance in the domestic fleet.
“Competing demands on UK government
and maritime departmental agencies could
put enforcement and response capabilities
at risk, especially in the event of illegal
fishing, border violations and any disorder.”PATIENTS could be hit by drug
shortages. “While some
products can be stockpiled,
others cannot because of short
shelf lives. It will not be practical
to stockpile six months’ supplies.”
Three-quarters of drugs arrive via
Folkestone and Dover, making them
“particularly vulnerable to severe delays”.
Medicines for diabetes, some leukaemia
treatments and flu vaccinations must be
transported under temperature controls.
“Supply chains are also highly regulated
and require transportation that meets strict
Good Distribution Practices. This can include
limits on transit times.”PASSENGERS travelling to and
from the EU may face more
immigration checks.
“UK citizens travelling to and
from the EU may be subject to
increased immigration checks at border
posts. This may lead to passenger delays at
St Pancras, Channel Tunnel and Dover,
where border controls are juxtaposed.
“Depending on what plans EU member
states put in place to cope with these
increased checks, it is likely delays will
occur for UK arrivals and departures at EU
airports and ports. This could cause some
disruption on transport services. Travellers
may decide to use alternative routes.”FIFTEEN thousand workers who
cross the border from Spain
daily face delays of more than
four hours “for a few months”.
“Because of checks at its
border with Spain (and the knock-on effect of
delays from the UK to the EU), Gibraltar will
see disruption to the supply of goods
(including food and medicines).”
It states that there will be delays of four
hours or more “for at least a few months” in
the movement of workers, residents and
tourists across the border.
It adds: “Prolonged border delays over
the longer term are likely to harm
Gibraltar’s economy.”SOME fresh food stocks will be
affected and hundreds of
thousands of people will be hit
by problems with water supply.
While there will not be
overall food shortages, a combination of
factors “will reduce availability and choice
and increase the price”. Poorest families
would be worst hit and “there is a risk that
panic buying will disrupt food supplies”.
There is also a warning of a “failure in the
chemicals supply chain” for water. “The
likelihood of this is considered low, affecting
hundreds of thousands of people. Urgent
action may need to be taken to make sure
people have access to clean water.”SOCIAL care could be hit by
rising inflation and operators
could collapse within months.
“The adult social care market
is already fragile because of the
declining financial viability of providers.
“An increase in inflation after the UK’s EU
exit would affect providers of adult social
care through increasing staff and supply
costs and might lead to failure within
two-three months for smaller providers and
four-six months for larger ones.
“Intelligence will be gathered to prepare
for effects on the sector, including closure of
services and handing back of contracts that
are not part of the normal market function.”PREVENTING a hard border
between Northern Ireland and
the Republic – the 310-mile
frontier will be the only land
border between the UK and EU- is likely to be “unsustainable”.
“Her Majesty’s Government will
activate the ‘no new checks with limited
exceptions’ model.
“The model is likely to prove
unsustainable because of economic, legal
and biosecurity risks.”
It claims cross-border smuggling will
increase, businesses could move and “job
losses are likely to result in protests and
direct action with road blockades”.
Brexpecting the worst
» Shortages of drugs, fuel
& food in ‘wartime’ scenario
»Tory minister: Reaction is
Project Fear scaremongering