UK government spends extra £2.1bn extra on no-deal preparations

The government announced on Wednesday an extra £2.1bn of funding will be destined to prepare for a no-deal Brexit which will double the amount of money it had set aside for that purpose this year.

The money would fund more border force officers and upgrades to transport infrastructure at ports.

The plans included £344m for 500 more border force officers and upgrades to transport infrastructure at ports, £434m would go to stockpiling for medicines, funding to ease traffic congestion in Kent, and £108m to help struggling businesses and tackle queues created by delays at the border.

"With 92 days until the UK leaves the European Union it's vital that we intensify our planning to ensure we are ready," said Chancellor Sajid Javid, announcing the move.

"We want to get a good deal that abolishes the anti-democratic backstop. But if we can't get a good deal, we'll have to leave without one.

"This additional £2.1bn will ensure we are ready to leave on 31 October - deal or no-deal."

Javid said government would provide a new immediate cash boost of £1.1bn and make a further £1.0bn available if necessary, entailing total spending of up to £6.3bn on no-deal Brexit contingency plans.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell described the plans as "an appalling waste of taxpayers' cash".

The shadow chancellor said the extra money was "all for the sake of Boris Johnson's drive towards a totally avoidable no-deal".

He added: "This government could have ruled out no-deal and spent these billions on our schools, hospitals, and people.

"Labour is a party for the whole of the UK, so we'll do all we can to block a no-deal, crash-out Brexit."

Although Johnson has repeatedly claimed since becoming PM that he would prefer leaving the EU on 31 October with a deal, he had also made it abundantly clear during the past week that he would not accept the current withdrawal agreement from the EU with its “undemocratic backstop”.