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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/jul/25/tories-divided-planning-for-a-no-deal-brexit-project-fear
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Project Fear redux? Tories divided over planning for a no-deal Brexit | Project Fear redux? Tories divided over planning for a no-deal Brexit |
| (5 months later) | |
| When Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s chief of staff, invited febrile Tory constituency chairs to Downing Street to brief them on the Chequers deal last week, he faced a mutinous band. | When Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s chief of staff, invited febrile Tory constituency chairs to Downing Street to brief them on the Chequers deal last week, he faced a mutinous band. |
| His warnings about the dangers to the UK economy went down particularly badly among the Brexit-supporting majority. One veteran activist scolded the fresh-faced aide: “I’ve had more years in business than you’ve been alive. I’m not afraid of no deal.” | His warnings about the dangers to the UK economy went down particularly badly among the Brexit-supporting majority. One veteran activist scolded the fresh-faced aide: “I’ve had more years in business than you’ve been alive. I’m not afraid of no deal.” |
| Tory activists are not the only ones angered by the way the government has, as they see it, weaponised contingency plans. “It’s Project Fear mark two. Do they think we can’t see that they’re trying to alarm people?” said one pro-Brexit MP. | Tory activists are not the only ones angered by the way the government has, as they see it, weaponised contingency plans. “It’s Project Fear mark two. Do they think we can’t see that they’re trying to alarm people?” said one pro-Brexit MP. |
| Conservatives? No – Brexit has shown us what they really are | George Monbiot | |
| For many months the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative party was desperate for the prime minister to intensify preparations, primarily to show Brussels that she was serious about walking away without an agreement. | For many months the Eurosceptic wing of the Conservative party was desperate for the prime minister to intensify preparations, primarily to show Brussels that she was serious about walking away without an agreement. |
| Stewart Jackson, a senior aide to the former Brexit secretary David Davis, claimed this week that May constantly blocked his department from planning for no deal. That only changed when, faced with the need to unite her cabinet behind her Chequers plan, she agreed to “step up” preparations. | Stewart Jackson, a senior aide to the former Brexit secretary David Davis, claimed this week that May constantly blocked his department from planning for no deal. That only changed when, faced with the need to unite her cabinet behind her Chequers plan, she agreed to “step up” preparations. |
| Since then, ministers seem to have gone into turbo-drive. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, told MPs that drugs and blood products would be stockpiled; thenew Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, promised there would be “adequate” food supplies; eeven the chancellor, Philip Hammond – who initially claimed it would be “irresponsible” to spend taxpayers’ cash on preparations (but has since set aside £3bn) – got in on the act, on Tuesday guaranteeing the Treasury would cover lost EU funding. | Since then, ministers seem to have gone into turbo-drive. The health secretary, Matt Hancock, told MPs that drugs and blood products would be stockpiled; thenew Brexit secretary, Dominic Raab, promised there would be “adequate” food supplies; eeven the chancellor, Philip Hammond – who initially claimed it would be “irresponsible” to spend taxpayers’ cash on preparations (but has since set aside £3bn) – got in on the act, on Tuesday guaranteeing the Treasury would cover lost EU funding. |
| Downing Street insists that it is not a deliberate tactic to show the prime minister’s new Brexit proposals in a good light. “We think Chequers is the right way forward … But no deal is not a political strategy,” one source said. | Downing Street insists that it is not a deliberate tactic to show the prime minister’s new Brexit proposals in a good light. “We think Chequers is the right way forward … But no deal is not a political strategy,” one source said. |
| One cabinet minister said the government would be playing “dead straight” when it begins issuing its 70 “technical notes” on preparing for a no-deal Brexit, likely to cover everything from health insurance for tourists to customs arrangements for small businesses. | One cabinet minister said the government would be playing “dead straight” when it begins issuing its 70 “technical notes” on preparing for a no-deal Brexit, likely to cover everything from health insurance for tourists to customs arrangements for small businesses. |
| As for May herself, she said on Tuesday the government was simply being “responsible and sensible” in making sure that individuals and businesses were prepared. | As for May herself, she said on Tuesday the government was simply being “responsible and sensible” in making sure that individuals and businesses were prepared. |
| “Far from being worried about preparations that we’re making, I would say that people should take reassurance and comfort from the fact that the government … is working for a good deal,” she said. | “Far from being worried about preparations that we’re making, I would say that people should take reassurance and comfort from the fact that the government … is working for a good deal,” she said. |
| “I believe we can get a good one, but it’s actually right that we say, because we don’t know what the outcome will be, let’s prepare for every eventuality.” | “I believe we can get a good one, but it’s actually right that we say, because we don’t know what the outcome will be, let’s prepare for every eventuality.” |
| Even ardent remainers are reluctant to ascribe a political motive, suggesting that no-deal planning was long overdue, especially when EU states such as the Netherlands have already started putting their own measures in place. | Even ardent remainers are reluctant to ascribe a political motive, suggesting that no-deal planning was long overdue, especially when EU states such as the Netherlands have already started putting their own measures in place. |
| Many Tories believe that the PM’s Chequers plan will benefit. A second cabinet minister said: “It’s really important that people understand what the alternative really means.” A backbench MP added: “It might also bring home the reality of some of the issues we will be facing.” | Many Tories believe that the PM’s Chequers plan will benefit. A second cabinet minister said: “It’s really important that people understand what the alternative really means.” A backbench MP added: “It might also bring home the reality of some of the issues we will be facing.” |
| But not everybody is so sure that the drip, drip of warnings will encourage people to eventually embrace May’s plans. “I’m not convinced it will work,” said one senior Brexiter. “After all, we didn’t have armageddon after the referendum like they had warned we would.” Another cabinet minister added: “I suspect it won’t have any impact either way.” | But not everybody is so sure that the drip, drip of warnings will encourage people to eventually embrace May’s plans. “I’m not convinced it will work,” said one senior Brexiter. “After all, we didn’t have armageddon after the referendum like they had warned we would.” Another cabinet minister added: “I suspect it won’t have any impact either way.” |
| The risk of a no-deal Brexit has clearly risen. The UK hopes to reach agreement with the EU by October, but the compromise plan agreed by ministers at Chequers has so far found little support in Brussels or in parliament. | The risk of a no-deal Brexit has clearly risen. The UK hopes to reach agreement with the EU by October, but the compromise plan agreed by ministers at Chequers has so far found little support in Brussels or in parliament. |
| And despite the Brexiters’ hopes that stepping up preparations for no deal would resonate in Brussels, some European states clearly think the British government is bluffing. The Irish deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, said on Wednesday: “I’ve heard a lot of comment on this issue in recent weeks and, to be honest with you, I think some of it is bravado. | And despite the Brexiters’ hopes that stepping up preparations for no deal would resonate in Brussels, some European states clearly think the British government is bluffing. The Irish deputy prime minister, Simon Coveney, said on Wednesday: “I’ve heard a lot of comment on this issue in recent weeks and, to be honest with you, I think some of it is bravado. |
| “The truth is that I don’t believe Britain can afford to have no deal on Brexit. I don’t believe that Ireland and the EU would want that either. The negative implications of a no-deal Brexit are very significant … We all have an obligation to make sure that that does not happen.” | “The truth is that I don’t believe Britain can afford to have no deal on Brexit. I don’t believe that Ireland and the EU would want that either. The negative implications of a no-deal Brexit are very significant … We all have an obligation to make sure that that does not happen.” |
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