Brexit: Labour urges Parliament recall after no-deal Brexit papers released
MPs' request to see e-mails, texts and WhatsApp messages from Dominic Cummings, Boris Johnson's chief aide, and eight other advisers in Downing Street were"unreasonable and disproportionate". Publishing the information, he added, would"contravene the law" and"offend against basic principles of fairness".
Dominic Cummings was one of those named in the request to release communications The government sought to resist the publication of the Operation Yellowhammer document, but lost a vote on the issue in the Commons on Monday, prior to the suspension of Parliament, so it was compelled to do so. The six-page document, dated 2 August, warns of disruption at Dover and other channel crossings for at least three months, an increased risk of public disorder and some shortages of fresh food.On food, the document says certain types of fresh food supply"will decrease" and"critical dependencies for the food chain" such as key ingredients"may be in shorter supply". It says these factors would not lead to overall food shortages"but will reduce the availability and choice of products and will increase price, which could impact vulnerable groups".It's been a fairly extraordinary few days in the House of Commons The document also says low-income groups"will be disproportionately affected by any price rises in food and fuel"."Unmitigated, this will have an impact on the supply of medicines and medical supplies," it says. "The reliance of medicines and medical products' supply chains on the short straits crossing make them particularly vulnerable to severe extended delays."The document also warns of potential clashes if foreign fishing vessels enter British territorial waters on the day after the UK's departure and says economic difficulties could be"exacerbated" by flooding or a flu pandemic this winter. BBC political correspondent Chris Mason said some of the scenarios outlined were"stark", but ministers were insisting the paper was not a prediction about what will happen. The document, which, until now, was categorised as"official, sensitive", is not an official cabinet paper. It dates from 10 days after Mr Johnson became prime minister. Retailers said the document confirmed what they have been saying will happen in the event of a no-deal Brexit.Confused by Brexit jargon? Reality Check unpacks the basics. "Fresh food availability will decrease, consumer choice will decrease, and prices will rise," Helen Dickinson of the British Retail Consortium said. And the British Medical Association described the Yellowhammer file as"alarming" and that it confirmed its warnings about no-deal, including the threat of medical supply shortages. MPs voted on Monday to order the release of all internal correspondence and communications, including e-mails, texts and WhatsApp messages, between nine No 10 advisers relating to Parliament's suspension. But the government has said it will not comply with the MPs' request, citing potential legal breaches of data protection and employment rights.It is from the latest internal no-deal planning, from August, from well within the time of Boris Johnson's administration. The government hopes that its recent efforts will change some of the most concerning aspects of what is titled a"reasonable worst case assumptions" document, but they are yet to be able to make those changes. Everything hinges on the core assumption made about disruption to freight traffic across the Channel - that over half would be stuck for up to two and a half days. Those assumptions on trade flow have improved recently, but are still poor, and enough to have several highly concerning consequences, from fresh food supply, to stability in Northern Ireland, to social care providers and supplies of medicines for people and animals. I have also been assured that a widely circulated version of this document, from the same day, had the phrase"base scenario".In any event, these are the real, plausible short-term shocks from a no-deal Brexit. The section on Northern Ireland is particularly concerning. In many respects it is incredible to have such a list of the plausible consequences of what is government policy. It is not difficult to see why the government resisted its release. It is unlikely to improve the mood of an already sceptical Commons. But it is really the first tangible, quotable, warts and all assessment of what Whitehall fears could be around the corner. Mr Gove said the legal advice received by Mr Johnson before requesting the prorogation of Parliament was in the public domain after being disclosed as part of the ongoing court cases, but there was no justification for the"far broader" information being sought. "To name individuals without any regard for their rights or the consequences of doing so goes far beyond any reasonable right of Parliament under this procedure. "These individuals have no right of reply, and the procedure used fails to afford them any of the protections that would properly be in place. "It offends against basic principles of fairness and the Civil Service duty of care towards its employees," he said.Related Topics
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