Dominic Rabb has given an impassioned speech claiming the UK will be better off ‘under any scenario’ outside of the EU.
The Brexit secretary gave the talk to assembled business leaders and reporters on the eve of the UK releasing the first batch of assessment papers on how the nation will fare if no deal is reached.
Raab said a no deal Brexit is “not what we want and not what we expect” but the UK has “got to consider the alternative” if the EU “does not match our pragmatism” in negotiations.
He said the government is publishing 25 technical notices today to help businesses “mitigate” short-term disruption.
This could include “unilateral” action by the UK, even if the EU doesn’t reciprocate.
The Brexit Secretary gave the example of batch-testing of medicines, with the UK to continue to accept EU testing.
Rabb said: “There are other areas where such engagement needs to take place, whether between the U.K. and the EU on data protection or between the U.K. and EU member states, for example between port authorities.
“That is the responsible thing for us to do on all sides.”
Preparation steps up
- 7,000 people are working on Brexit preparations
- Another 9,000 will join the civil service
- 300 additional staff will join the UK Border Force
- An additional 1,000 will be hired to support Border force