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Brexit
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Queen Elizabeth to be evacuated if Brexit riots break out in London

  • Business groups have warned of possible shortages of food and medicine

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There are plans to move the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, to safe locations away from London if Britain suffers a disruptive departure from the European Union next month. File photo: AFP
Reuters

British officials have revived cold war emergency plans to relocate the royal family should there be riots in London if Britain suffers a disruptive departure from the European Union next month, two Sunday newspapers reported.

“These emergency evacuation plans have been in existence since the cold war, but have now been repurposed in the event of civil disorder following a no-deal Brexit,” The Sunday Times said, quoting an unnamed source from the government’s Cabinet Office, which handles sensitive administrative issues.

British officials were also looking at whether they might need sweeping powers, including the introduction of martial law, if there is disorder after Brexit, the paper reported last week. Thousands of troops have also been put on standby.
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British soldiers enter a Ministry of Defence building near to New Scotland Yard police headquarters. File photo: AFP
British soldiers enter a Ministry of Defence building near to New Scotland Yard police headquarters. File photo: AFP

The Mail on Sunday also said it had learnt of plans to move the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth, to safe locations away from London.

Britain’s government is struggling to get parliamentary support for a Brexit transition agreement with the EU before the departure date of March 29, and the government and businesses are preparing contingency plans for a “no-deal” Brexit.

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