Politics

No Deal Brexit chief Michael Gove leaves papers dangling from his open briefcase


After a massive leak of the government’s No Deal Brexit papers, you’d think he would be more careful.

But Michael Gove – the Cabinet’s No Deal planning supremo – strode out of his house today with his official briefcase dangling open.

A thick wad of paperwork could be seen hanging precariously out the bottom of his ‘red box’ as he stood on his London doorstep.

Fortunately for him, pictures appear to show the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster spotted his mistake – and handed the shut briefcase to an aide.

The astonishing gaffe unfolded this morning despite Mr Gove presiding over a No Deal Brexit plan worth more than £6bn.

And it comes barely a day after a dire leak of the government’s No Deal planning advice Operation Yellowhammer.

A thick wad of paperwork could be seen hanging precariously out of his ‘red box’

Mr Gove is presiding over a No Deal Brexit plan worth more than £6bn

 

The briefing said petrol and medical supplies could be disrupted and up to 85% of lorries using Channel ports may not be ready for French customs checks.

It added 15,000 workers who cross daily from Spain to Gibraltar face delays of more than four hours “at least for a few months”.

It said some supplies of fresh food will fall with hundreds of thousands of customers affected by water supplies.

It added 300 foreign boats could be illegally fishing in UK waters after October 31, risking clashes at sea.

And it said the “fragile” care industry could be hit by rising inflation and small operators could collapse within three months.

 

Fortunately for him, pictures appear to show the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster spotted his mistake

He handed the shut briefcase to an aide

The Mirror understands the briefing was presented to one of the first meetings of Boris Johnson’s No Deal Brexit ‘war cabinet’ – around a week after he took power.

Yet despite that being just three weeks ago, Mr Gove and No10 claimed the document was already out of date.

Mr Gove claimed it was a “worst case scenario” and “very significant steps” have been taken since it was produced.

A Number 10 source said: “This document is from when ministers were blocking what needed to be done to get ready to leave and the funds were not available.

“It has been deliberately leaked by a former minister in an attempt to influence discussions with EU leaders.

Mr Gove claimed the leaked document was a “worst case scenario” and “very significant steps” have been taken since it was produced

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“Those obstructing preparation are no longer in Government, £2 billion of extra funding already made available and Whitehall has been stood up to actually do the work through the daily ministerial meetings.

“The entire posture of Government has changed.”

Labour’s leadership today joined calls for Parliament to be recalled early from its summer break.

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas added: “He is putting his foot on the accelerator, driving the country off the cliff-edge as if he had a huge mandate and overwhelming support.

“He has no mandate for this. The Government has a majority of precisely one.”





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