Politics

No Deal Brexit spending officially tops £6bn as Boris Johnson confirms huge new fund


Plans to prevent chaos if Boris Johnson leaves the EU without a deal on Halloween will cost another £2.1billion, the Chancellor announced.

The new figure includes plans to stop the UK running out of food and medicine.

It is by far the largest spending commitment made since Mr Johnson came to power, bringing government spending on Brexit preparations to £6.3billion.

Labour ’s Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell branded it an “appalling waste of tax-payers’ cash, all for the sake of Boris Johnson ’s drive towards a totally avoidable No Deal.”

He added: “This government could have ruled out No Deal, and spent these billions on our schools, hospitals, and people.

The PM did not get the warmest welcome in Northern Ireland

 

And GMB boss Tim Roache said : “It’s needless, and it’s based on Tory Party divisions not the needs of working people. “

The Treasury has earmarked £344 million to spend preparing the UK Border for the chaos of a no-deal Brexit, including 500 extra Border Force officials.

And cash will be spent improving transport infrastructure around the Kent coast to deal with massive tailbacks at Dover.

The Government will spend a further £434 million to ensure the supply of vital medicines if trade routes break down.

And more than £100 million will be spent on an ad campaign to encourage Brits to prepare for the worst-case Brexit scenario.

Some £1.1 billion of the cash will be available immediately – with a further £1 billion available for Government departments to bid on as necessary.

DUP leader Arlene Foster

 

Number 10 insiders now believe leaving without a deal is the most likely outcome, despite Boris Johnson saying publicly it was a “million to one” just days ago.

Mr Javid said: “With 92 days until the UK leaves the European Union it’s vital that we intensify our planning to ensure we are ready.

“We want to get a good deal that abolishes the anti-democratic backstop.

But if we can’t get a good deal, we’ll have to leave without one. This additional £2.1 billion will ensure we are ready to leave on 31 October – deal or no deal.”

Best for Britain CEO Naomi Smith said: “This is a colossal waste of money for something both Parliament and the country don’t want.

“We know a no-deal Brexit will mean shortages of foods and medicines, and we know it’ll cost the country a fortune. Now the new Chancellor wants to throw billions more at the problem his government is responsible for creating.

“Wasting money like this when we have so many other priorities is exactly why the country has turned against Brexit. We need to stop fixating on it so that we can fix the country.”

Tim Roache is not a fan of the new PM

GMB General Secretary Tim Roache warned Brexit will make things far worse for working people unless Boris Johnson stops fixating on our departure from the EU and tackles their “real life” concerns.

Writing for the Mirror, he said: “If politicians do not address the everyday worries of large swathes of the public – or if the outcome of Brexit is to makes things far worse and not better for working people then that lead to a want to tear down the status quo.”

“The last PM didn’t learn that lesson,” Mr Roache added. “And the current one couldn’t figure it out if it smacked him over the head.”

It comes after Boris Johnson reaffirmed his commitment to leaving the EU on October 31 “come what may” during a meeting with political leaders in Northern Ireland.

A Number 10 spokesman said: “He said that in all scenarios, the government is steadfast in its commitment to the Belfast-Good Friday Agreement and that in no circumstances would there be physical checks or infrastructure on the border.”

The Prime Minister faced a third day of jeers and protests as his tour of the UK’s regions landed in Stormont for talks aimed at restoring power sharing.

Mary Lou McDonald was not impressed with the new PM

 

The PM promised to be “impartial” in the talks, despite enjoying a cosy dinner with leaders of the hard-line Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) the night before.

On Tuesday night, the Prime Minister dined with DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds, to discuss renewing the grubby pact Theresa May hatched with their party to prop up her fragile grip on Parliament.

 

Sinn Fein, the SDLP and Alliance, all supporters of Theresa May’s ill-fated Withdrawal Agreement and the contentious border backstop, warned Mr Johnson of the potentially damaging consequences for the region if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

The Ulster Unionists, which campaigned for Remain in 2016 but now want to see Brexit delivered, also cautioned the Prime Minister against a no-deal.

The DUP again insisted they wanted to see a “sensible” Brexit deal, but said it would be foolish to take no-deal off the negotiating table.

Boris Johnson got booed in Belfast

 

Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Johnson of being “complacent” about the damage she said Brexit could inflict on the island of Ireland.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon said Mr Johnson was “hurtling” the region toward a “catastrophic” no-deal Brexit.

“We went into this meeting concerned that he would have a limited understanding of the complexities and the fragility of this place and those concerns have been confirmed,” she said.

“It is very clear he views and understands the situation through the eyes of the DUP.”

Ms Mallon added: “He just retorted with Brexit nearly every question you asked him, nearly every point you made he gave us bluff and bluster around Brexit.”

Liberal Democrat Treasury Spokesperson Chuka Umunna MP said: “This extra money is a drop in the ocean when compared to the huge hit to the exchequer of at least £90bn – according to the Chancellor’s predecessor – of  a no-deal Brexit.

“They promised us an extra £350m each week for the NHS, now they are making more money available just to ensure access to medicine.

“This is a political choice made by an irresponsible government. The Liberal Democrats are the only party that can get into government which is committed to stopping Brexit – so we can use public monies to tackle the real problems the country faces.”





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