The supposed increased likelihood of a no-deal Brexit has encouraged ministers to ramp up their no-deal planning efforts, with some 3,500 troops on standby to help in the event of a crisis. Despite measures including chartering space on cross-channel shipping to ensure additional medical supplies can be brought in if necessary, Jacob Rees-Mogg does not appear to be concerned. He sent a Tweet saying that leaving without a deal wouldn’t be the ‘end of the world’.
Given how much preparation would be involved in preparing for a no-deal Brexit – and how much work still needs to be done to May’s deal if it has any chance of getting through Parliament – it is quite incredible that MPs will be taking a two-week break over Christmas. Justine Greening, the pro-European Conservative, said there was ‘no excuse’ for delaying the vote on the Brexit deal, or taking a festive break.
Today we will see the UK inflation rate for November which is expected to dip to 2.3% from 2.4% the previous month. We will also see the CBI industrial trends orders for December – that reading is also expected to fall, from 10 to 6.