«Breaking News» Some 600 Whitehall staff are set to be redeployed to prepare for possible no-deal Brexit

Hundreds of staff at Britain's foreign aid department will be redeployed to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

The Department for International Development (Dfid) last night confirmed that 600 staff will be seconded to other departments as Whitehall steps up contingency plans for Britain leaving the EU in March next year.

The redeployment amounts to one-fifth of the department's staff and could leave it struggling to spend the UK's massive £14 billion aid budget. 

Staff will be moved to 'front line' departments such as the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Department for Exiting the EU.

PM Theresa May sits with members of her cabinet, including Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Jeremy Hunt

Sources said the move followed a Whitehall-wide call-up this week after the Cabinet agreed on Tuesday to 'ramp up' preparations for a no-deal Brexit. 

Dfid said the proposal was part of 'sensible' precautions and demonstrated the 'flexibility' of the civil service. 

A source insisted the UK would still hit its target of spending 0.7 per cent of income on foreign aid. Officials have also now decided that the prospect of the UK crashing out without a deal has become more likely. 

Dozens of 'technical notices' outlining how the UK would prepare for no deal have been published in recent months. The documents stated that a no-deal exit 'remains unlikely'.

But the phrase has been removed in online versions of the documents after this week's Cabinet decision. Government sources said the move simply reflected the fact that, with fewer than 100 days until the UK leaves the EU, Theresa May's deal has still not been approved by Parliament.

Mrs May yesterday insisted that no-deal 'remains unlikely', but said the best way of avoiding it was for MPs to back her proposals in next month's vote.

The preparations came as:

• Downing Street slapped down Amber Rudd for suggesting a second Brexit referendum could be held if the PM's deal fails.


• Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom suggested the UK could pursue a 'managed no deal' if MPs reject Mrs May's plans – an idea ridiculed by other ministers.


• MPs were told that the delayed vote on Mrs May's plans will take place on or around January 15.


• Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott opened up Labour splits by suggesting a second referendum may be 'the only option'.


• Former Tory minister Nick Boles was warned he could face deselection for suggesting he would quit the party in the event of a no-deal Brexit.


• Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters Mrs May 'must enact the will of the people... otherwise it is not a referendum at all'.

The Cabinet's civil war over the Government's 'Plan B' for Brexit continued unabated. Miss Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, has already hinted she could quit if the Government actively pursues no deal.

Yesterday she became the first Cabinet minister to suggest a second referendum may eventually be needed, saying that while she did not want one, there would be a 'plausible argument' for it if Mrs May's plans are defeated.

Justice Secretary David Gauke dismissed the idea as a 'unicorn' this week, saying it was a fantasy which should be 'slayed'

No 10 dismissed the idea. Asked if a second referendum was plausible if Parliament remains gridlocked, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'No', adding: 'As you know the Prime Minister has been very clear on the dangers of calling a second referendum.'

Jeremy Hunt warned it would be dangerous for democracy and 'disastrous for the Conservative party'. Mrs Leadsom said another referendum would be 'unacceptable' and 'undermine the biggest democratic exercise ever'.

She opened up her own front on Brexit by suggesting the Government should attempt a 'managed no deal' if Mrs May's plan fails.

Justice Secretary David Gauke dismissed the idea as a 'unicorn' this week, saying it was a fantasy which should be 'slayed'.

He drove the point home yesterday by posting a photo of himself on social media holding a toy unicorn. Mr Gauke said he would find it 'very difficult' to stay in a government committed to no deal.

Even though the EU has said it will not countenance a deal without the controversial Irish backstop, Mrs Leadsom insisted it was a serious option.

'What I am looking at is trying to find an alternative that, in the event we cannot agree to this deal, that there could be a further deal [with] a more minimalist approach. that allows us to leave with some kind of deal and some kind of implementation period that avoids a cliff edge.'

 

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/21/some-600-whitehall-staff-are-set-to-be-redeployed-to-prepare-for-possible-no-deal-brexit/
Main photo article Hundreds of staff at Britain’s foreign aid department will be redeployed to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
The Department for International Development (Dfid) last night confirmed that 600 staff will be seconded to other departments as Whitehall steps up contingency plans...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/20/21/7678988-6517913-image-a-39_1545341466143.jpg