Brexit: Government must 'get its act together' to prevent panic-buying and civil unrest, officials warn

The government needs to “get its act together” to prevent panic-buying and civil unrest over Brexit, officials have warned.

A group coordinating contingency planning in London heard that with 44 days until Britain is due to leave the EU, authorities still have “no direct indication of what we’re planning for”.

Suggestions that the government may delay Article 50 remain unconfirmed, and no date has been set for a parliamentary vote on a deal with the EU since Theresa May’s proposals were rejected last month.

Fiona Twycross, chair of the London Resilience Forum, said people would stockpile food, fuel and other supplies because of the uncertainty.

“The government might tell people not do it but as soon as they can give people some certainty the better,” she told the London Assembly EU Exit Working Group.

“This is an issue government needs to sort out, they need to get their act together so that people don’t take what in some instances could be seen to be a very rational decision.”

Dr Twycross warned that if stockpiling turns into panic-buying, poorer households and vulnerable people would be more exposed to any resulting shortages.

John Hetherington, City Hall’s head of London resilience, said public behaviour could also drive a fuel crisis, potentially sparking traffic gridlock and civil unrest.

“The hardest-hit area would be the southeast of England, where there could be very localised shortages that are then exacerbated by public behaviour,” he added.

Mr Hetherington said authorities and businesses may have to adapt to a “new normal” but that much depended on the public’s reaction and EU decisions on supply routes.

He added that the uncertainty was “not necessarily the fault of the civil servants we work with. I think we are exasperated as we are.”

Authorities in London are working to mitigate risks around potential protests and disruption to borders and food, energy and food supplies.

But Dr Twycross said that the “chaotic situation” in the government meant authorities have little information on what to prepare for and are making “educated assessments”.

“If we’re not going to get additional detail until there is a parliamentary conclusion that presents a big risk,” she told the London Assembly EU Exit Working Group.

Dr Twycross said instructions from government had only been modified “very slightly” since technical notices were sent out last year, despite a dramatic shift towards no deal.

“My concern is that in some other [local authority] areas, people have been waiting until they get a stronger indication from government,” she added.

“They took as read that the government was confident that there would be a deal, and now it’s getting too late, and everyone is having to play catch-up.”

Dr Twycross, a Labour assembly member, said some officials had feared speaking openly of risks around Brexit because they feared “entering a political arena”.

A representative of the NHS London coordination centre said that six weeks of medicine and equipment reserves had been built up nationally to mitigate any supply issues around Brexit.

He said no “immediate impact” on the NHS workforce was expected.

Working group chair Len Duvall concluded: “We are planning for the worst case scenario but whatever happens in 44 days’ time is going to be chaotic.”

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: “MHCLG is committed to working with local government and local leaders to ensure they are adequately prepared to respond to any Brexit scenario. The government remains confident that it will secure a good deal with the EU. Nevertheless, it’s only responsible to prepare for a number of scenarios.

“We have pledged over £56m to councils to assist their Brexit preparations and are providing regular communications to local leaders so they are kept well-informed.”