Michael Gove has triggered operation Yellowhammer, meaning hundreds of civil servants are to set preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
Civil servants are moving to various operations centres across the UK on Monday as officials enter their “final most intensive stage p government” preparations.
A spokesman for the Cabinet Office said, “We have now entered the final, most intensive stage of the government’s preparations for leaving the EU without a deal by triggering Operation Yellowhammer.
“This makes sure we will have done everything possible to prepare for leaving the EU without a deal on October 31.”
Gove has insisted that the UK will still leave the European Union on 31 October despite the prime minster requesting a three-month extension under the Benn Act.
Speaking on Sky News Sophie Ridge on Sunday Gove said, “We are going to leave by 31 October. We have the means and the ability to do so.”
Adding, “The risk of leaving without a deal has actually increased because we cannot guarantee that the European Council will grant an extension.
“And that is why I will, later today, be chairing a Cabinet committee meeting, extraordinarily on a Sunday, in order to ensure that the next stage of our exit preparations and our preparedness for no-deal is accelerated.
“It means that we are triggering Operation Yellowhammer.
“It means that we are preparing to ensure that, if no extension is granted, we have done everything possible in order to prepare to leave without a deal.”
