No-deal Brexit now ‘assumed’ by government, says Gove
The government is now “working on the assumption” of a no-deal Brexit, Michael Gove has said.
Gove said his team still aimed to come to an agreement with Brussels but, writing in the Sunday Times, he added: “No deal is now a very real prospect.”
Mr Johnson has made Gove responsible for planning a no-deal Brexit.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Gove to chair meetings seven days a week until Brexit is delivered, according to the paper.
Gove said tweaks to Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement – which was approved by the EU but resoundingly rejected by Parliament – would not be enough.
“With a new prime minister, a new government, and a new clarity of mission, we will exit the EU on October 31. No ifs. No buts. No more delay. Brexit is happening,” he said.
Planning for no deal was now a “number one priority”, he said, as the paper reported that Mr Johnson had put together a “war cabinet” of six key ministers to deliver Brexit by October 31 “by any means necessary”.
British Chancellor Sajid Javid has said there will be “significant extra funding” this week to get Britain “fully ready to leave” the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.
