UK government to issue guidance to prepare public in case of no-deal Brexit

By Ryan Wilkinson, Press Association

With less than three months until Britain is due to leave the EU, the Government is launching a publicity drive to prepare the public for a possible no-deal Brexit.

Whitehall departments and the health regulator are to begin publishing guidance on how the public can get ready for potential issues that may arise from a disorderly break from Europe, the Brexit Secretary has said.

The public information campaign, which will also see broadcasts on radio and social media, comes after the Government sought to advise businesses on how they might best prepare for no deal.

Steve Barclay said that no deal will be "far more likely" if MPs reject the Prime Minister's agreement when a vote is held in the week beginning January 14.

"The pace and intensity of the work we are doing reflects the potential scale of this disruption to people and businesses across the UK that a no-deal scenario could bring," the minister wrote in the Daily Express.

"The Home Office will next week be publicising guidance on new passport rules for people travelling to many European countries.

"These rules would mean some people have to renew their passport earlier than planned. Advice is already available online and next week the Home Office will further publicise how to renew a passport as easily as possible.

"The Department for Transport is sharing guidance on how we will ensure people can continue to travel to the EU in the event of no deal, and today the medicines regulator has updated guidance to ensure regulatory processes for medicines, medical devices and clinical trials are fit for purpose.

"And, on Tuesday, we will start a new phase in our public information campaign, using radio and social media to further raise awareness."