Boris Johnson news: Government releases no-deal Brexit documents, as PM warned ‘it’s over’ if he misled the Queen

Follow how the day unfolded

Dominic Grieve: Boris Johnson must resign if he misled the Queen about suspending Parliament

A no-deal Brexit would trigger major hold-ups at channel ports, significant electricity price increases, shortages of some foods and delays to medicine imports, government documents reveal.

HGV delays of between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half days would occur at Dover and public disorder could increase, according to the Operation Yellowhammer “reasonable worst case planning assumptions” released in response to MPs voting for it to happen.

The six page document was made public after Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament has been ruled as unlawful by judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, prompting MPs to demand he “comes back and face the music”.

Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded​

Key Points

• Court of Session rules prorogation 'unlawful'
• Grieve says PM must resign if found to have misled the Queen
• Tory poll lead over Labour cut to one point
• Merkel says 'every chance' of deal, but 'prepared' for disorderly Brexit
• Tom Watson says Labour must 'advocate for remain'

[11 September 2019 22:21 · Samuel Osborne]

Here's our political editor, Andrew Woodcock, with some analysis on the government's Operation Yellowhammer document:

[11 September 2019 22:28 · Samuel Osborne]

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn tweeted: "Official government documents confirm Boris Johnson is prepared to punish those who can least afford it with a No Deal Brexit to benefit his wealthy friends.

"He must be stopped."

He accompanied his tweet with a picture of part of the document which read: "Low income groups will be disproportionately affected by any price rises in food and fuel."

[11 September 2019 22:40 · Samuel Osborne]

Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, said: "These documents confirm the severe risks of a no-deal Brexit, which Labour has worked so hard to block.

"It is completely irresponsible for the government to have tried to ignore these stark warnings and prevent the public from seeing the evidence.

"Boris Johnson must now admit that he has been dishonest with the British people about the consequence of a no-deal Brexit.

"It is also now more important than ever that Parliament is recalled and has the opportunity to scrutinise these documents and take all steps necessary to stop no deal."

[11 September 2019 22:49 · Samuel Osborne]

Former education minister Sam Gyimah - one of 21 Tory rebels who had the whip withdrawn - tweeted: "The leaked document wasn't out of date. This isn't project fear.

"It is a sober assessment of what could happen. No-deal is not 'vanishingly inexpensive' or a 'bump in the road'. This is only a part of the chaos and long-term damage our country would suffer. We must stop this."

[11 September 2019 23:00 · Samuel Osborne]

Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, tweeted: "Disruption to crime data sharing and an overstretched police force left to deal with public unrest - the #Yellowhammer docs show just how much the Tories No Deal Brexit is putting our safety at risk."

[11 September 2019 23:11 · Samuel Osborne]

Green MP Caroline Lucas tweeted: "It simply beggars belief that any government could be willing to contemplate a future that will cause so much pain and disruption - much less rush towards it. Is this what Boris Johnson meant by 'do or die'? #Yellowhammer."

[11 September 2019 23:23 · Samuel Osborne]

The British Medical Association said the "alarming" Yellowhammer document confirmed its warnings about the impact of a no-deal Brexit.

BMA Council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said: "Here we see in black and white the government warning of disruption to vital medicine supplies, a higher risk of disease outbreaks due to veterinary medicine supply issues, and UK pensioners in the EU being unable to access healthcare from 1 November if there is a no-deal Brexit.

"The warnings around social care providers folding within months of Brexit day are particularly concerning, having a huge impact on our most vulnerable patients and the wider health service in the depths of winter."

[11 September 2019 23:40 · Samuel Osborne]

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "The Yellowhammer document confirms what retailers have been saying for the last three years - fresh food availability will decrease, consumer choice will decrease, and prices will rise. This isn't good for the British public and this isn't good for British retailers.

"A no-deal Brexit in November represents the worst possible timing for the retail industry and the consumers it serves. Warehousing availability will be limited as retailers prepare for Black Friday and Christmas, many fresh fruit and vegetables will be out of season in the UK, and imports will be hampered by disruption through the Channel Straits that could reduce flow by up to 60 per cent for up to three months.

"While retailers are doing all they can to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, it is impossible to completely mitigate the negative impact it would have - something the government itself has acknowledged.

"The fact remains that a damaging, no-deal Brexit is in no-one's interests and it is vital that a solution is found, and fast, that ensures frictionless tariff-free trade with the EU after our departure."

[11 September 2019 23:47 · Samuel Osborne]

Michael Gove, the cabinet minister tasked with no-deal Brexit preparation, insisted the Yellowhammer document outlined a "worst case scenario."

He was responding to comments by Luciana Berger MP, on ITV's Peston programme, who said the document illustrated what would happen in 50 days' time without a deal.

Mr Gove tweeted that he had "a lot of admiration" for Ms Berger, "but on this occasion she's wrong - Yellowhammer is a reasonable worst case scenario NOT our base case of what will happen..."

[11 September 2019 23:50 · Samuel Osborne]

Dominic Grieve said: "Even a partial release of the Yellowhammer documents is enough to show how deep the damage a no-deal exit from the EU would do.

"Boris Johnson cannot portray forcing an undemocratic no-deal on the country as patriotic. On the contrary it would be deeply damaging to our economic interests and to social cohesion.

"As a One Nation Conservative I am deeply fearful of the long-term damage a reckless approach - which knowingly risks prosperity, increases poverty and even threatens medical supplies - will do to both the people and our party. This must be stopped.

"As we cannot trust Boris Johnson to halt this calamity, we must trust the people. We must give the public the final say in a new referendum with the option of keeping our current deal as members of the EU."