HAMMERED
Operation Yellowhammer row deepens as five-page document warns of food price rises and medicine shortages
A No Deal Brexit would cause delays to medicine imports, hike electricity prices, lead to shortages of some foods and trigger major hold-ups at channel ports, government documents reveal.
The Operation Yellowhammer documents warn of panic buying, disease outbreaks and disruption for passengers travelling to and from the EU.
5
5
The dossier, which had been dismissed by some Brexiteers as 'Project Fear', was released after Boris Johnson was "ordered" by MPs in a drubbing Commons defeat on Monday to publish all documents – including Cabinet papers - relating to No Deal planning and the prorogation decision since July.
But No10 is so far refusing to release sensitive emails and texts sent between Boris' top advisers regarding his controversial suspension of Parliament.
It comes after a Scottish Court yesterday ruled that the prorogation of Parliament was illegal, with the row now heading for the Supreme Court in London next week.
The "sensitive" August 2nd Operation Yellowhammer document released last night warns HGVs could face delays of nearly three days when trying to cross the Channel in a No Deal Brexit.
The supply of medicines could be hit and fresh food stocks will "decrease".
It admitted low-income groups will be "disproportionately affected" by price rises for food and fuel.
Some 100,000 homes may suffer water supply problems in "localised" disruption.
And the document warns “protests and counter protests” will take place across the UK – "absorbing significant amounts of police resource".
GOVERNMENT DOSSIER
The dossier says UK citizens travelling to and from the EU "may be subject to increased immigration checks at EU border posts".
It warns: "This may lead to passenger delays at St Pancras, Cheriton (Channel Tunnel) and Dover where juxtaposed controls are in place.
"Dependent on the plans EU member states put in place to cope with these increased immigration checks, it is likely that 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 to complete their journey."
MOST READ IN NEWS
Michael Gove, the Cabinet minister responsible for no-deal planning, said the details described what could occur in a “reasonable worst case scenario” but “not a prediction of what is most likely to happen”.
And he pledged to publish “revised assumptions” reflecting ongoing preparatory work “in due course”.
But a source from Theresa May’s government said: “They’ve clearly relabelled it.
“This was originally a base scenario, which is government language for what is most likely to happen.”
Brexiteer Mr Gove also said there was no way Downing Street would be releasing secret personal communications between the PM’s top advisers over the decision to suspend Parliament.
In a letter to former Attorney General Dominic Grieve he said: “This is an unprecedented, inappropriate and disproportionate use of procedure.”
And he said to try and grab the text and Whatsapp messages sent by the PM’s aides without giving them a right of reply “offends against basic principles of fairness”.
5
5
10 WARNINGS FROM GOVERNMENT DOSSIER
Protests and counter-protests will take place across the UK and may absorb "significant" amounts of police resource.
Day one after leaving the EU is a Friday which may coincide with the end of the October half-term school holidays.
Flow of cross-Channel goods could be reduced to 40% of current rates on day one, with "significant disruption lasting up to six months."
Fresh supplies of food will decrease and will push up prices.
HGVs could face maximum delays of one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half days before being able to cross the border.
An increase in inflation would "significantly" impact adult social care providers due to increasing staff and supply costs, and may lead to provider failure.
There will be 'increased immigation checks at EU border posts' leading to delays.
The aim of avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland may be 'unsustainable'.
Up to 282 EU and EEA nations fishing vessels could enter illegally which is "likely to cause anger and frustration" in the UK catching sector which could lead to clashes between fishing vessels.
Public and business readiness for a no-deal will remain at a low level and will 'increase Brexit fatigue'.
5