The British Army is reportedly on standby to deliver food, medicines, and fuel in case of a no-deal Brexit
- Plans are being made for the British Army to deliver food, medicine, and fuel to people around the country if a no-deal Brexit causes shortages.
- It is feared that a no-deal Brexit would create a "doomsday scenario" in the UK.
- Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, but negotiations with the EU still appear to be deadlocked.
The British Army has reportedly been put on standby to deliver food, medicines, and fuel in case of shortages if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
The military would be called in to assist civilian authorities if they ran out of such supplies, with helicopters and army trucks being used to shuttle aid to people around the country, The Sunday Times reported.
The contingency plans were all made in case Britain left the EU next March with no deal. The Ministry of Defence has not received a formal request for the aid, but told the Sunday newspaper that there was "a blueprint for us supporting the civilian authorities that can be dusted off" if the time came.
British media has reported on a "doomsday scenario" created by a no-deal Brexit in recent months. Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29, 2019, and negotiations with the EU still appear to be deadlocked.
Government officials have reportedly "begun contingency planning" for the Port of Dover - the nearest English port to France - to "collapse" immediately after Britain leaves the EU.
It is also feared that supermarkets and hospitals would run out of food and medicine in a matter of days. Brexit secretary Dominic Raab promised earlier this week to make sure food supplies remained "adequate."
Health secretary Matt Hancock also said last week the government was preparing to stockpile medicines and blood supplies in the event of no deal.
An unnamed minister told The Sunday Times: "There is a lot of civil contingency planning around the prospect of no deal. That's not frightening the horses, that's just being utterly realistic."
A no-deal Brexit could also significantly weaken the value of the pound, and "plausibly knock a percentage point or so off growth next year," said Vicky Redwood, global economist at Capital Economics.