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Downing Street has played down the prospect of food and water shortages this winter if a no-deal Brexit coincides with a second wave of coronavirus.
A leaked document outlining the Government’s emergency planning for a “reasonable worst-case scenario” painted a stark picture about the impact of both Covid-19 and a no-deal Brexit coinciding.
A Cabinet Office dossier, leaked to The Sun newspaper, warns that the Navy may be needed to stop British fishermen clashing with illegal European fishing boat incursions.
The military may be drafted in to airdrop food to the Channel Islands under the emergency plans drawn up by the Government.
Town halls could go bust and troops may have to be drafted on to the streets if the economic toll causes public disorder, shortages and price hikes, according to the leaked dossier.
It also says parts of the UK may face power and petrol shortages if thousands of lorries are stranded in Dover while shortages of medicines caused by port blockages could lead to animal diseases spreading in the countryside.
But a Number 10 spokesman sought to downplay the document and its contents on Monday.
He said: “That report is not a forecast or a prediction of what we think will happen, but – as you would expect any responsible government (to do) – we prepare for all eventualities.
Coronavirus hits the UK – In pictures
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
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An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
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Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/50
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
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Durdle Door in Dorset
Reuters
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Captain Tom Moore
via Reuters
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Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
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An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS
Reuters
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Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
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Tobias Weller
PA
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Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
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London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
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A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
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Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
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A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
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General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
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Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
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A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
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A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
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Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
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A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
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People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
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Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
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Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
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Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
27/50
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
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A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
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An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
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Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
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A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
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The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
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A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
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Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
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Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
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The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
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Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
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A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
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Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
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A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
42/50
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
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Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
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A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
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A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
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A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
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A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
48/50
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
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A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
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Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
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Electronic bilboards displays a message warning people to stay home in Sheffield
PA
2/50
An image of The Queen eith quotes from her broadcast to the UK and the Commonwealth in relation to the Coronavirus epidemic are displayed on lights in London’s Piccadilly Circus
PA
3/50
Boris Johnson addresses the nation on the Coronavirus lockdown
Andrew Parsons
4/50
Military vehicles cross Westminster Bridge after members of the 101 Logistic Brigade delivered a consignment of medical masks to St Thomas’ hospital
Getty Images
5/50
Durdle Door in Dorset
Reuters
6/50
Captain Tom Moore
via Reuters
7/50
Mia, aged 8, and Jack, aged 5, take part in “PE with Joe” a daily live workout with Joe Wicks on Youtube to help kids stay fit who have to stay indoors due to the Coronavirus outbreak
PA
8/50
An NHS worker reacts at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS
Reuters
9/50
Goats which have taken over the deserted streets of Llandudno
@AndrewStuart via PA
10/50
Tobias Weller
PA
11/50
Novikov restaurant in London with its shutters pulled down while the restaurant is closed
12/50
London Landscapes: Hyde Park and the Serpentine, central London.
Matt Writtle
13/50
A newspaper vendor in Manchester city centre giving away free toilet rolls with every paper bought as shops run low on supplies due to fears over the spread of the coronavirus
PA
14/50
Theo Clay looks out of his window next to his hand-drawn picture of a rainbow in Liverpool, as the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continue
Reuters
15/50
A young man cuts another man’s hair on top of a closed hairdresser in Oxford
Reuters
16/50
General view of the new NHS Nightingale Hospital, built to fight against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in London
via Reuters
17/50
Jason Baird is seen dressed as Spiderman during his daily exercise to cheer up local children in Stockport, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues
Reuters
18/50
A woman wearing a face mask walks past Buckingham Palace
Getty Images
19/50
A man holds mobile phone displaying a text message alert sent by the government warning that new rules are in force across the UK and people must stay at home
PA
20/50
Medical staff on the Covid-19 ward at the Neath Port Talbot Hospital, in Wales, as the health services continue their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
21/50
Prime Minister Boris Johnson taking part in a virtual Cabinet meeting with his top team of ministers
PA
22/50
A shopper walks past empty shelves in a Lidl store on in Wallington. After spates of “panic buying” cleared supermarket shelves of items like toilet paper and cleaning products, stores across the UK have introduced limits on purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have also created special time slots for the elderly and other shoppers vulnerable to the new coronavirus.
Getty Images
23/50
People on a busy tube train in London at rush hour
PA
24/50
Mia, aged 8 and her brother Jack, aged 5 from Essex, continue their school work at home, after being sent home due to the coronavirus
PA
25/50
Children are painting ‘Chase the rainbows’ artwork and springing up in windows across the country
Reuters
26/50
Social distancing in Primrose Hill
Jeremy Selwyn
27/50
Westminster Bridge is deserted
PA
28/50
A general view of a locked gate at Anfield, Liverpool as The Premier League has been suspended
PA
29/50
An empty escalator at Charing Coss London Underground tube station
Jeremy Selwyn
30/50
Homeless people in London
AFP via Getty Images
31/50
A piece of art by the artist, known as the Rebel Bear has appeared on a wall on Bank Street in Glasgow. The new addition to Glasgow’s street art is capturing the global Coronavirus crisis. The piece features a woman and a man pulling back to give each other a kiss
PA
32/50
The Queen leaves Buckingham Palace, London, for Windsor Castle to socially distance herself amid the coronavirus pandemic
PA
33/50
A general view on Grey street, Newcastle as coronavirus cases grow around the world
Reuters
34/50
Matt Raw, a British national who returned from the coronavirus-hit city of Wuhan in China, leaves quaratine at Arrowe Park Hospital on Merseyside
PA
35/50
Britain’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty (L) and Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance look on as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures as he speaks during a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) news conference inside 10 Downing Street
Reuters
36/50
The ticket-validation terminals at the tram stop on Edinburgh’s Princes Street are cleaned following the coronavirus outbreak.
PA
37/50
Locked school gates at Rockcliffe First School in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear
PA
38/50
A sign at a Sainsbury’s supermarket informs customers that limits have been set on a small number of products as the number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases grow around the world
Reuters
39/50
Jawad Javed delivers coronavirus protection kits that he and his wife have put together to the vulnerable people of their community of Stenhousemuir, between Glasgow and Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
40/50
A sign advertising a book titled “How Will We Survive On Earth?”
Getty Images
41/50
A man who appears to be homeless sleeping wearing a mask today in Victoria
Jeremy Selwyn
42/50
A pedestrian walks past graffiti that reads “Diseases are in the City” in Edinburgh
AFP via Getty Images
43/50
Staff from The Lyric Theatre, London inform patrons, as it shuts its doors
PA
44/50
A quiet looking George IV Bridge in Edinburgh
PA
45/50
A quieter than usual British Museum
Getty Images
46/50
A racegoer attends Cheltenham in a fashionable face mask
SplashNews.com
47/50
A commuter wears a face mask at London Bridge Station
Jeremy Selwyn
48/50
A empty restaurant in the Bull Ring Shopping Centre
Getty Images
49/50
A deserted Trafalgar Square in London
PA
50/50
Passengers determined to avoid the coronavirus before leaving the UK arrive at Gatwick Airport
Getty Images
“In terms of food and water we have a robust and resilient sector and we are not anticipating that will change.”
The classified document, dated July 2020, further warns that if trade restrictions triggered by a no-deal Brexit are combined with floods, flu and another coronavirus wave, then hospitals may be overwhelmed.
UK and EU negotiators warned there has been little progress during the latest round of post-Brexit trade deal talks last week and time is running out to broker a deal before the transition period comes to a close at the end of the year.
Scientists are fearful that the winter months could bring about a second wave of coronavirus in the UK.
Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove said on Sunday: “We got Brexit done with a great deal in January and we are working flat out to make sure the United Kingdom is ready for the changes and huge opportunities at the end of the year as we regain our political and economic independence for the first time in almost fifty years.
“Part of this work includes routine contingency planning for various scenarios that we do not think will happen, but we must be ready for come what may. Whether we trade with the EU on terms similar to Canada or to Australia, a brighter future awaits as we forge our own path.”
A Government spokeswoman added: “At the end of the year we will be outside the single market and the customs union, whatever the outcome of negotiations, and intensive planning is under way to help ensure that businesses and citizens are ready to take advantage of the opportunities and changes that will bring.
“This includes launching a comprehensive communications campaign to make sure everyone knows what they need to do to prepare.
“As a responsible Government we continue to make extensive preparations for a wide range of scenarios, including the reasonable worst case.
“This is not a forecast or prediction of what will happen but rather a stretching scenario. It reflects a responsible Government ensuring we are ready for all eventualities.”
