The new DD

Yesterday, it emerged at the new Minister for DExEU, Dominic Raab, might have been acting against the policy of the Government when he suggested that UK might not pay the £39 billion "divorce" bill if UK dd not get a trade deal.

This is a typical mistake that Brexiteers make, thinking that by threatening they have great leverage.

The bill, part of the first three issues that needed to be agreed before talks moved on to trade, is not a payment for something, but a settlement on UK's current commitments that it would have made were it to remain in the EU. This the UK accepted in December and again in March. To renege on this now would be a major mistake, signaling that the UK's word could no longer be trusted on the world stage. And at a time when UK would have to negotiate new trade deals with not just the EU, but countries all over the world, and if our word cannot be trusted, or that UK had failed to live up ti its responsibilities, then what would that make other countries think?

Either Raab was or wasn't acting outside Government policy or the PM's approval; either way it will worry the EU as either Raab has already gone rogue, or a significant change by the UK Government. Will be interesting to see how the EU now acts on this. The White Paper in itself, although some of which is unacceptable, was seen as a realistic starting point, but the UK now changing tack once again might mean the end of talks altogether.

The Government is saying it is now planning for a No-deal scenario, which is news for us in East Kent, and us Dovorians in particular, as there is no real preparations for that here, and it is here that Brexit will be felt first and hardest. Lorry holding areas, new customs and immigration facilities are needed, hundreds and hundreds of staff and a computer system for them to use are needed before the end of March, and it all needs to work, and the customs checks, paperwork and regulations followed would need to be accepted by the EU.

None of that is in place, as it would take about 5 years for all that to be in place, even if there was a computer system that could be used off the shelf. As it is, there will be chaos.

The Government is going to publish something like 60 technical instructions to homes and businesses in the next few weeks, on how to prepare for a no deal. When pushed if this meant details on stockpiling food, Raab would not be drawn, but neither did he deny it either.

Food, fuel, medicines and much of what is imported will be quickly in short supply. There is less than a week's supply of food in the country, and within a few days, there will be great shortages.

Energy is highly likely to be rationed, electricity and gas rationed, so those working will have their hours curtailed. It will be like 1973 all over again, because I'm sure that's what the people voted for.

And yet the Brexiteers will try to blame the EU for this, with their unicorn laced plans for Brexit having been rejected at every turn by the EU. All they wanted was unicorns, cake and eating it.

Still, not much at stake is there?