Boris Johnson is planning to spend £100 million on a no-deal Brexit information ‘blitz’ as the government is now working on the “assumption” the country will leave the bloc without an agreement.
The Telegraph reported the information push will include leaflets sent to 27 million households and TV ads ahead of the October 31 departure date in what is touted as the biggest public information campaign since the end of the Second World War.
Johnson has also set up a network of top level committees to try and ensure that Brexit happens by the deadline.
The prime minister, who spoke with the cabinet by telephone on Sunday lunchtime to outline the new structure, is understood to want to improve on the way previous committees operated as he believed they did not move fast enough.
Cabinet agreed that this approach would send a clear message about the government’s plans to deliver Brexit by the end of October, according to Downing Street.
The Daily Operations Committee, chaired by Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, will meet every weekday and will be responsible for overseeing all of the government’s preparation for leaving, and a possible no-deal exit.
Meanwhile, Johnson has called for a renewal of “the ties that bind our United Kingdom” as he travels to Scotland to announce a £300 million funding pot for communities in the devolved nations.
Johnson is making his first official visit north of the border since becoming Prime Minister to announce the expansion of regional Growth Deals in parts of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
It comes as the Tory government said it is “operating on the assumption” that Britain will leave the EU without a deal.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Gove said that while the aim was still to leave with a deal, the government needed to prepare for every eventuality.
“With a new prime minister, a new government, and a new clarity of mission, we will exit the EU on October 31. No ifs. No buts. No more delay. Brexit is happening,” he said.
“The EU’s leaders have, so far, said they will not change their approach — it’s the unreformed withdrawal agreement, take it or leave it,” he added.
“We still hope they will change their minds, but we must operate on the assumption that they will not.”
Chancellor Sajid Javid has said there will be “significant extra funding” this week to get Britain “fully ready to leave” the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.
The additional spending will include financing one of the country’s “biggest ever public information campaigns” to ensure individuals and businesses are ready for a no-deal exit, Javid told the Sunday Telegraph.
“Under my leadership, the Treasury will have new priorities and will play its full role in helping to deliver Brexit,” he said.
“In my first day in office as Chancellor, I tasked officials to urgently identify where more money needs to be invested to get Britain fully ready to leave on October 31 – deal or no deal.”
He added that he planned to fund 500 new Border Force officers and look at new infrastructure around the country’s ports to minimise congestion and ensure goods can flow.
However, Davidson said she would not support no deal.
The Scottish Conservative leader also insisted that her position in the Scottish Parliament exists independently of Westminster and that she does not have to sign any no-deal pledge to continue to serve.
Davidson said: “Where I differ with the UK government is on the question of a no-deal Brexit.
“I don’t think the UK government should pursue a no-deal Brexit, and if it comes to it, I won’t support it.
“I wrote to tell the former prime minister Theresa May that last year and I confirmed my position to her successor when I spoke to him last week.
“As leader of the party in Scotland, my position exists independently of government. I don’t have to sign a no-deal pledge to continue to serve.”
Corbyn would not say exactly when he would call a vote of no confidence against Johnson, but said he would “look at the situation” when parliament returns in September as he opposed no deal.
He added: “Parliament gets back in September and I think it’s at that point we will look at the situation.
“But it’s also up to the Prime Minister and what he decides to do as well because if he is trying to take us out on a no-deal Brexit at the end of October we will oppose that.
“I can guarantee you this, we will do everything to prevent a no-deal Brexit, we will do everything to challenge this government, and we will do it at a time of our choosing.”
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said he was working on a cross-party alliance to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
He told The Observer: “The political direction of travel under Boris Johnson is clear, and so it is more important than ever that we build a strong cross-party alliance to stop a no-deal Brexit.
“That work will intensify over the summer, before Parliament resumes in September.”
The poll came as Johnson set out an eye-catching domestic stall promising a £3.6 billion boost for left-behind towns.
He also pledged funding for a new rail link between Manchester and Leeds and promised action on housing and crime, despite insisting he was not preparing for a snap autumn election.