LONDON: British ministers agreed Tuesday to make no-deal Brexit planning “an operational priority” amid continued opposition to Prime Minister Theresa’s May draft divorce deal, just 14 weeks before the country leaves the EU.
Following a meeting of her cabinet — the last before parliament breaks for the Christmas/New Year break – Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said around 3,500 troops would be on standby to help deal with the “any contingencies” from a no-deal outcome.
But Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said ministers still hoped to secure backing for May’s agreement in a House of Commons vote delayed until next month.
He added that any responsible government would intensify preparations for the “default option” of leaving the European Union without a deal on March 29 next year.
“We agreed that preparing for no deal will be an operational priority within government,” Barclay said. “But our overall priority remains to secure a deal.”