Operation Yellowhammer: No 10 furious at leak of paper predicting shortages after no-deal Brexit

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

No 10 furious at leak of paper predicting shortages after no-deal Brexit

Government figures seek to play down predictions of food, medicine and fuel shortages in leaked document
• Operation Yellowhammer: the key points

Rowena Mason Deputy political editor
Sun 18 Aug 2019 20.30 BST Last modified on Sun 18 Aug 2019 21.08 BST

Downing Street has reacted with fury to the leak of an official document predicting that a no-deal Brexit would lead to food, medicine and petrol shortages, with No 10 sources blaming the disclosure on a hostile former minister intent on ruining Boris Johnson’s trip to see EU leaders this week.

The leaked document, detailing preparations under Operation Yellowhammer, argues that the most likely scenario is severe extended delays to medicine supplies and shortages of some fresh foods, combined with price rises, if there is a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

It said there would be a return to a hard border on the island of Ireland before long and a “three-month meltdown” at ports unable to cope with extra checks. Protests could break out across the UK, requiring significant police intervention, and two oil refineries could close, with thousands of job losses, according to the documents.

Those campaigning against a no-deal Brexit said the official Cabinet Office document confirmed all the warnings about the risks of crashing out without an agreement. Tom Brake, a leading Liberal Democrat MP, said it revealed the truth that no deal would “have wartime implications, in peacetime, all of them self-inflicted”

The Freight Transport Association (FTA) also reacted with alarm to the idea of fuel shortages in particular, saying these possibilities had not been conveyed to them by the government.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/18/number-10-furious-leak-document-predicting-no-deal-brexit-shortages

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Related: No-deal Brexit: key points of Operation Yellowhammer report

[abqtommy]

1. Good...now the people at "No 10"

can be furious just like the rest of us. I hope the leaks keep coming.

[RockRaven]

2. Note that BJ is not bothered by the shortages, he's bothered people know he knows they will happen.

Now he stands to get blamed when they come to pass! That's what he and his cronies are pissed about. Not the damage, just the blame.

[Ghost Dog]

5. Exactly this.

[asiliveandbreathe]

3. Once the British people are allowed to fully understand what a no-deal Brexit will do

the push for a peoples vote should bubble up...I just hope there is enough time, and enough of a ground swell to make it happen..I am still learning, who wants what - BJ upset..too bad..will the people rise up, time will tell....

[Midnightwalk]

4. Yeah but

Once the EU sees the UK is serious in their resolve to self immolate they will be filled with awe, respect and terror.

Then the EU will cave and the UK will get everything they want and more in the negotiations.

At least that part of the plan didn’t leak so it could still work.

Did I get it right?

[Ghost Dog]

6. Yep. You have to let me get everything my way or else I'll shoot myself

in the head, stamps foot.