Army Reservists are called up in preparation for no-deal Brexit: Troops will be on standby on the streets from NEXT MONTH ‘in case of civil unrest’
- Ministry of Defence has moved to call up part-time soldiers for no deal Brexit
- Reservists are set to make up about 10 per cent of the 3,500 no deal deployment
- Soldiers could be used in a range of roles as a short term measure in a no deal
- Orders will be to guard against threat to welfare of citizens and the economy
Army Reservists will be on stand-by from February 10 to deal with the fallout from a no deal Brexit, ministers confirmed today.
The part-time soldiers will be about 10 per cent of the 3,500 strong force announced by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson before Christmas.
The announcement prompted claim ministers are preparing for ‘civil unrest’ by deliberately shaking up Britain’s political order by refusing to rule out allowing a chaotic no deal Brexit.
Troops will be used to tackle ‘potential immediate impacts’ from a no deal Brexit that could damage the ‘welfare, health and security of UK citizens and economic stability of the UK’.
Defence Minister Mark Lancaster confirmed the call up in a written statement to Parliament today.
Army Reservists will be on stand-by from February 10 to deal with the fallout from a no deal Brexit, ministers confirmed today
SNP MP Peter Grant slammed the Government getting Britain into a situation it needed troops on standby in case of ‘civil unrest’
Labour MP Ian Murray, who supports the anti-Brexit Best for Britain campaign, said: ‘It is extraordinary that we could have soldiers forced to respond to chaos at our ports and airports, managing traffic queued for miles on the motorways, and helping police officers keep public order in the event of major shortages.
‘It will rightly anger the British public that our dedicated Armed Forces personnel could be called upon to fix the Prime Minister’s mess. We were promised sunny Brexit uplands and now we have troops on the streets.’
‘A ‘no deal’ scenario should be ruled out immediately by the Prime Minister, to avoid this chaos. There is absolutely no parliamentary support for this.
‘She should take her deal to the public, and agree to a people’s vote which includes the option of remaining in the EU and avoiding the need for soldiers on the streets.’
SNP MP Peter Grant, tweeted: ‘What responsible government would deliberately create a situation where they had to put military reservists on standby to prevent civil unrest?’
Mr Lancaster told MPs the reservists could be used to reinforce regular units, in liaison officer roles, providing specialist skills and reinforcing regional points of command to ensure they stay open 24 hours a day.
The move is the latest part of no deal contingency planning which has also seen advice to citizens to prepare themselves and their families.
The part-time soldiers will be about 10 per cent of the 3,500 strong force announced by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson before Christmas
The Department for Transport has arranged contracts worth millions of pounds for additional ferry capacity in case the main Dover-Calais route breaks down.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling was ridiculed for handing a £13.8million contract to Seaborne Freight, a new firm which owns no ships and has never run a cross- Channel route before.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has chartered a flight to bring in emergency medical supplies for the NHS and boasted he is the world’s biggest fridge customer to ensure drugs can be stockpiled.