Britain Not Ready for No Deal, Says Brexit Select Committee - Tasnim News Agency

Significant concerns have been expressed over the UK’s preparedness for leaving the EU by an influential group of MPs less than two weeks before Brexit day on December31.

The Commons’ Brexit select committee has called on the UK government to ensure there is a robust contingency plan in place in the next fortnight to cope with the fallout as it criticizes the lack of an “overall state of readiness” for business and citizens.

It comes as it emerged that Whitehall this week tested some worst-case possible scenarios in a no-deal outcome. According to the Times (paywall), Operation Capstone events included French fishing boats blockading ferries in the English channel, the hijacking of vaccine trucks, a surge in hate crime, an explosion in Gibraltar and the closure of a care home because of sudden shortages of EU nationals workforce after 1 January.

Many of the details of the new trade and travel barriers are only beginning to sink in. Some will not emerge until it is known if the UK and the EU have been able to hammer out a deal before the Sunday deadline.

The committee has warned that borders must not be compromised if there is no agreement on policing that ensures continued access to law enforcement tools including the European arrest warrant.