Brexit: Government calls up British army reservists to help prepare for no-deal

The government is to deploy troops across the country as part of its preparations for a no-deal Brexit. 

Ministers have issued a formal notice to call up British army reservists to help tackle the impact that crashing out of the EU could have “on the welfare, health and security of UK citizens and economic stability of the UK”.

The Ministry of Defence said it was committed to supporting plans for a no-deal outcome to ensure there are “effective and proportionate contingency plans in place”.

Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, hsd previously told MPs that 3,500 troops are on standby to help with no-deal planning.

In a parliamentary statement, defence minister Mark Lancaster said: “A new order has been made under section 56(1B) of the Reserve Forces Act 1996 to enable Reservists to be called into permanent service in support of the [government’s] contingency planning for a no deal EU exit scenario.

“Defence is committed to assisting the Cabinet Office coordinated work programme to ensure that there are effective and proportionate contingency plans in place to mitigate the potential immediate impacts leaving the EU, under a ‘no deal’ scenario, might have on the welfare, health and security of UK citizens and economic stability of the UK.”

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