United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum
all articles
Just under 100 days before the EU's exit, the government of Theresa May is preparing for a hard Brexit without an agreement with the European Union. General priority is still to wrap up a Brexit contract, Brexit Minister Steve Barclay said after a meeting of the Cabinet in London. At the same time, a responsible government must ensure that it is prepared for an unregulated Brexit.
"That's why the Cabinet has decided today that operational-level no-deal preparations will be a priority in the government," said the Brexit minister. In addition, more information is being issued to businesses and EU citizens living in the UK.
Preparations included provision for space on ships for the supply of medical supplies and other goods to the UK.
The British media interpreted the move as a warning to MPs in the House of Commons and to the EU that it is serious about London and ready to withdraw from the international community if necessary without an agreement.
Graphic for the Brexit Deal
The state of the negotiationsHow's Brexit Poker
So far it is unclear how May wants to bring the agreement negotiated in Brussels through parliament. At a performance on Monday in the House of Commons, she announced that the postponed vote on her Brexit deal will take place in the third week of January (from January 14). This met in part with strong criticism of the deputies. May has refused to discuss a Plan B if the deal in the House of Commons fails.