The British Government expects the return of a hard border in Ireland in the event of a 'No Deal' Brexit.
Official documents leaked to The Sunday Times show Downing Street believes current plans for avoiding a hard border will prove “unsustainable.”
It warns that the return of border could spark protest, road blockages and “direct action.”
The paper also warns that Britain will face shortages of fuel, food and medicine and a three-month meltdown at its ports if it leaves without a deal.
A UK Government source told the paper that the scenarios are not worst-case – but are the “likely, basic and reasonable” results of failure to ratify a deal.
Operation Yellowhammer
The dossier, codenamed Operation Yellowhammer, warns that businesses and people in the UK remain largely unprepared for the shock of a ‘no deal’ situation.
It warns that 85% of lorries using the main Channel crossings may not be ready and could face delays of up to two-and-a-half days.
Significant disruption at UK ports will last up to three months – with capacity returning to 50% to 70% in the months after.
Medical supplies will be subject to “severe extended delays,” with border delays disrupting the distribution of fuel to London and Southern England.
Backstop
It comes as a new poll finds that almost three-in-five voters in the North would support the original Northern Ireland-only backstop as a solution.
The LucidTalk poll found that an overwhelming number of nationalists, a clear majority of Green Party and Alliance voters and one-in-six unionists support the plan.
Originally agreed to by the British Government, the plan would have seen a joint UK/EU customs territory established in Northern Ireland.
Downing Street pulled its support for the plan after the DUP claimed it would create a ‘border down the Irish Sea.’
That led to the British Government’s insistence that the backstop include the entire UK.
European meetings
The document was leaked as UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to tell his European counterparts that the British Parliament cannot prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Johnson is due to meet the leaders of France and Germany ahead of this week’s G7 Summit of economic powers.
He will use the meetings to repeat his demand for a new withdrawal agreement and warn that the UK is leaving on October 31st come what may.
He has indicated that he will set a General Election for a date after the UK leaves if he loses any vote of confidence - thus ensuring the UK crashes out.
Unity Government
British MPs are continuing to discuss ways to oust Mr Johnson and put in place a time-limited Government to prevent the UK crashing out.
The opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has put himself forward as the man to lead the ‘Government of national unity’ – however the Liberal Democrats and pro-Remain Conservatives, have other ideas.
The negotiations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, more than 100 MPs have sent him a letter calling on him to immediately recall Parliament and let it sit permanently until the scheduled departure date of October 31st.
The Westminster leaders of the SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, Change UK, and the Green Party's Caroline Lucas have also backed the call.
