Brexit preparations have been accelerated: UK

LONDON: Preparatory work for Brexit “has seen a significant acceleration in recent months,” Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman said after a cabinet meeting devoted to the issue.

Almost 3,000 new jobs within the government have been created to support Brexit planning, including the recruitment of 300 additional lawyers, the spokesman, James Slack, told reporters in London on Tuesday. The UK tax agency will take on as many as 5,000 extra staff next year, while government departments are drawing up 300 separate programs for Brexit, he said.

“Each of these plans prepares the country for the range of negotiated outcomes and a ‘no deal’ scenario for a policy area affected by the UK leaving the EU,” Slack said. “The plans set out detailed delivery timelines including, for example, to recruit and train new staff; to design and procure IT systems; and to deliver the necessary legislative and regulatory changes.” May’s deputy, First Secretary of State Damian Green, will head a new Brexit and trade cabinet subcommittee, with a focus on domestic preparedness and legislation.

The focus of Tuesday’s cabinet discussions was on the planning for leaving the European Union rather than the Brexit negotiations with the bloc’s 27 remaining members, Slack said. Brexit Secretary Davis has proposed moving the talks to an ongoing basis and away from the current pattern of four-day sessions held once a month in Brussels, a person familiar with the UK position said.