Backlash on funding plan for no-deal Brexit

Britain's opposition Labour Party has reacted angrily to the government's announcement of $2.5 billion of funding for measures such as medicine stockpiling and a public awareness campaign in the event of a no-deal Brexit departure from the European Union on Oct 31.

The funding is reportedly meant to send a signal to Europe that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government is serious about walking away from the 28-member trading bloc without a detailed agreement, if one cannot be reached in time.

The Guardian newspaper also claimed measures were being made public because of concern that business was not taking the issue seriously, after the failure of Johnson's predecessor Theresa May to take Britain out on March 29.

The money will include funding for an additional 500 new immigration officers, on top of the 500 already announced earlier this year. They should be prepared for potential border and immigration chaos. In addition, 434 million pounds will be spent on logistical arrangements of ensuring medical supplies, and more than 100 million pounds each on ways to help businesses and individuals prepare for life after a potential no-deal Brexit.

"This government could have ruled out no deal, and spent these billions on our schools, hospitals, and people," said Labour's shadow chancellor, John McDonnell. He said his party would "do all we can to block a no-deal, crash-out Brexit".

His comments were echoed by Labour MP Meg Hillier, chair of the Commons public accounts committee, who attacked the government's increasingly militaristic tone.

"Just because Boris Johnson is making it sound like he's fighting a war, with seven-days-a-week meetings in Whitehall, that is not license to spend taxpayers' money like water, throwing good money after bad.

"It is of course responsible for a government to be prepared for an emergency. But this is an emergency of the government's own making-boring though it may be that taxpayers' money could be spent on essential public services."

On July 11, 2017 Johnson told Parliament "there is no plan for no deal, because we're going to get a great deal", but with fewer than 100 days to go until the latest-already twice delayed-departure from the EU, he insists the country will leave on Oct 31, but has repeated that no deal is not his preferred option.

Many MPs have made it clear that they will do all they can to block a no-deal Brexit, and Johnson could find his hands tied even more if his government's parliamentary majority of just two seats, propped up by support from Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, is reduced.

On Thursday a by-election took place in the Conservative-held seat of Brecon and Radnorshire. Senior Conservative MPs including former chancellor Philip Hammond and former attorney general Dominic Grieve have indicated they would be willing to help bring down the government rather than support a no-deal exit. Another MP, Phillip Lee, said he felt "increasingly feeling politically homeless" and was "going to spend the summer thinking a lot".

julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com

(China Daily 08/02/2019 page12)