*LONDON: Britain has the option of using martial law to quell civildisorder that might ensue under a no-deal Brexit, but that is not the focusof the government’s attention, Health Minister Matt Hancock said on Sunday.*
*The Sunday Times* cited unnamed officials as saying the government hadbeen examining the powers at its disposal if a no-deal Brexit resulted incivil disobedience, including martial law, curfews, and the use of the armyto quell rioting.
Asked by the *BBC’s* Andrew Marr if the government was considering thepossibility of martial law, Hancock said: “Not specifically, no.” Hancockthen added: “It remains on the statute book but it isn’t the focus of ourattention.”
Britain is set to leave the European Union on March 29, but the country’slawmakers remain far from agreeing a divorce deal, leaving open the defaultpossibility of a disorderly Brexit.
Officials have been discussing the practicalities of implementing the CivilContingencies Act 2004, which would allow the government to make anyappropriate provisions to protect human life, health, safety and supplies,the *Sunday Times* said.
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“The overriding theme in all the no-deal planning is civil disobedience andthe fear that it will lead to death in the event of food and medicalshortages,” a source told the newspaper.
Hancock said the pharmaceutical industry was doing everything it could toprevent shortages of medicines resulting from any delays at bordersresulting from a no-deal Brexit.
