Operation Yellowhammer: UK’s murky contingency plan for no-deal Brexit chaos could start next week
- British media reports say martial law, curfews and travel bans could be introduced to prevent civil unrest after country leaves EU
- Government says 12 areas may be at risk, including national security, transport, food and medicine
The British government is planning to push the start button on its no-deal Brexit emergency plan as early as Monday March 25, newspapers reported on Wednesday.
Code-named Operation Yellowhammer after a small English bird, the “worst case scenario” plan would begin a “command and control” system to prevent possible food, fuel and cash shortages if the UK crashes out of the European Union without an agreement.
According to some newspaper reports the government could even introduce martial law to prevent civil unrest.
European Union President Donald Tusk said on Wednesday the bloc would agree to Prime Minister Theresa May’s request to delay Brexit for a few months – until June 30 – but only if she could get the agreement she reached with the European Union through parliament.
After failing to do that twice, the prospect of Britain crashing out of the EU without a trade deal looks likely.
May was expected to meet EU leaders on Thursday in Brussels to discuss an exit delay after blaming MPs in the House of Commons for the political crisis.