No-deal Brexit 'simply not an option' and would damage UK's security, warns defence minister

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood says it would be a 'folly' for the PM to deliberately pursue no deal

A no-deal Brexit is “simply not an option” and would damage the UK’s ability to tackle threats from terrorism to cybercrime, a defence minister has said.

Tobias Ellwood said that while it was right for the government to prepare for a disorderly exit from the EU, “the damage this worse-case scenario would cause means all efforts must be made to avoid it”.

He becomes the latest minister to publicly express opposition to no deal – advocated by some Brexiteers – after justice secretary David Gauke hinted last week he would find it “very difficult” to remain in his position.

In an article in The Times, Mr Ellwood said it would be a “folly” for the prime minister to deliberately pursue a no-deal Brexit, adding: “No deal is simply not an option.”

He said a lack of an agreement would have implications for national security, adding: “Leaving without a deal would mean access to around 40 international security programmes would be significantly reduced.

“Exchanges of critical intelligence data would halt until new arrangements are in place. We would immediately reduce our ability to tackle threats from terrorism to cybercrime, modern slavery to fraud.”

He continued: “Departing from the EU with no deal would have profound reputational damage consequences; for example, prompting potential trading partners to think twice before engaging with us.”

Last week, however, senior Tory and Labour MPs in the Commons joined forces in an attempt to block a no-deal Brexit by tabling an amendment to the Finance Bill.

It would prevent the government from keeping tax law working in the event of a no deal, without the consent of the Commons. Other similar ambushes are expected to follow.

Mr Ellwood’s remarks came as Theresa May used an article to say Britons should “dispense” the EU referendum titles of Leave and Remain and instead “find common ground”.

Writing in the Daily Express, she suggests the concerns of voters extend beyond Britain’s departure of the European Union, citing schools, the NHS and housing as examples.

She wrote: “The sooner MPs agree the right Brexit deal, the sooner we can all get back to dealing with those issues and building a country that works for everyone.

“It won’t be easy, and there is a lot of hard work ahead of us in 2019. But I’m confident.

“Because I know that when the British people come together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.”