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I don't remember Brexiteers writing 'Armageddon scenario' on the side of their campaign bus

But at least we will get a blue passport and maybe even a Brexit stamp. I guess that is decent compensation for the biggest act of economic self-harm in a generation

Layla Moran
Monday 04 June 2018 16:31 BST
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Bank of England Governor Mark Carney: Brexit has already hit UK GDP by up to £40bn

Remember the refrain of “No deal is better than a bad deal”? Well, this week we have seen how utterly ridiculous and terribly frightening that concept is.

Whitehall’s “Doomsday Brexit” scenario predicted shortages of medicines, food and fuel –within two weeks of leaving the EU. This should have sent a shiver down everyone’s spine, yet it was glibly ignored by Brexiteers on the Tory back benches. I do not remember Brexiteers adopting the catchphrase of “Armageddon scenario” and plastering it on the side of their campaign bus. I should have seen their response coming but I cannot believe that supposedly rational people, paid to act in the best interest of their constituents, can avoid every bit of evidence they don’t like.

Brexiteers will dismiss the latest report as project fear, when this is actually a frightening reality.

I guess Jacob Rees-Mogg’s only Brexit-related concern is an avocado shortage and Prosecco being rationed at the Tory Black and White Ball. While most people worry about the NHS, food or petrol, these Brexiteers live in their ivory towers – or, to be honest – palatial estates.

But at least we will get a blue passport and maybe even a Brexit stamp. I guess that is decent compensation for the biggest act of economic self-harm in a generation.

This government cannot make the trains run on time. I would not let these people run me a bath, let alone the most complex negotiation in modern history.

The documents released to The Sunday Times are said to have been written for the Inter-Ministerial Group on Preparedness by civil servants at the Department for Exiting the EU, Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Transport.

They were leaked by officials concerned by Brexiteers' confidence about the UK's prospects if it left the EU without a deal. Even Mauritania has an EU fisheries deal – it comes to something when pig-headed Brexiteers want to be below Mauritania in trade. But I guess we shouldn’t worry: Liam Fox is on the case.

The important point is Brexiteers said that this would be easy, that we could leave and enter a post-Brexit nirvana, a land of milk and honey that will satisfy their ideological dogma and make the people happy. Sadly, this deluded dream has run out of steam.

Best for Britain, a group that I am involved with, is campaigning against Brexit and is working against this delusion. They are working across party lines to secure a vote on the final Brexit deal, with an option to remain in the EU.

The government should publish this document and stop pretending it doesn't exist. This drives a stake through any remaining pretence of government competence. This is no joke. Our public services face the prospect of collapse if a “no deal” Brexit happens.

We can now see that the government is driving us all towards disaster, and they know it, too. It is utterly reckless that ministers continue to make these decisions, having read these reports (or at least we hope they have), with the damning consequences laid out to them in black and white.

A no deal Brexit could bring Britain to a grinding halt and threaten the wellbeing of our country. No one voted for that. I doubt even the staunchest Leavers want that. That’s why the people should be given the final say on the Brexit deal, with the option to stay and lead within the EU.

Layla Moran is Liberal Democrat education spokesperson and MP for Oxford West and Abingdon

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