FAILURE to secure a Brexit deal would plunge Britain into a “state of emergency,” with the the risk of basic public services being thrown into chaos, a senior Conservative has warned.

Dominic Grieve, the former Attorney General and a leading Remainer, insisted crashing out of the European Union with no deal would be "absolutely catastrophic" for the UK.

He said: "We will be in a state of emergency – basic services we take for granted might not be available."

It comes as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab appeared to confirm reports the Government is planning to stockpile food in anticipation of talks breaking down.

READ MORE: Raab signals Britain will not pay Brexit settlement without a trade deal

He accused the EU of "irresponsibly" ramping up pressure in withdrawal negotiations, and confirmed preparations are underway for a no deal outcome.

Official analysis previously warned Scotland’s economy would suffer a £12.7 billion a year blow if no deal was struck.

Experts have also raised fears over spiralling food costs, huge queues at the Port of Dover, tens of thousands of job losses and disruption in the supply of medicines.

Kirsty Hughes, director of the Scottish Centre on European Relations, branded the increasingly fraught rhetoric around the possibility of no deal “completely insane”.

But she said she was still optimistic an agreement will be struck, adding: “I think no deal is getting more likely, but equally, I don’t think either side want it.”

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Raab indicated he was still trying to persuade all members of the Cabinet that Theresa May’s Chequers compromise agreement was “the best plan to get the best deal”.

He insisted a deal with the EU can be reached by October, but signalled Britain could withhold its £39 billion divorce bill if it did not get a trade deal in return.

Chancellor Philip Hammond previously said it would be “inconceivable” to walk away from such an obligation.

Mr Raab also rejected comments from Brussels suggesting a no deal scenario would mean there would be no specific arrangements in place for UK citizens living on the continent, or for EU migrants in Britain after withdrawal.

He told the Andrew Marr Show said: "Well, I think that's a rather irresponsible thing to be coming from the other side.

"We ought to be trying to reassure citizens on the continent and also here. There is obviously an attempt to try and ramp up the pressure."

Asked about reports the Government is preparing to stockpile food, Mr Raab at first denied it, but then added: “That kind of selective snippet that makes it into the media I think is – to the extent that the public pay attention to it – I think is unhelpful."

He insisted it would be “frankly irrational” for the EU to pursue the “worst case scenario” of a no deal outcome.

Former Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan, a leading Remainer, said she believed a majority in Westminster and on the Conservative benches would not accept leaving the EU without an agreement in place.

Meanwhile, former Brexit secretary David Davis urged the Prime Minister to "reset" her negotiating strategy and start again.

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Tory Government appeared to be prioritising “stepping up preparations for a no deal” instead of concentrating on negotiations.

He said: "I just get the feeling that the tail is wagging the dog in the Conservative Party and those that want no deal seem to be ruling the roost and they are pushing for that."

The SNP warned a no deal Brexit would betray the interests of ordinary people.

It comes as a parliamentary report said EU citizens granted "settled status" to stay in the UK after Brexit should be given physical residency cards to prove their rights, not forced to rely on online checks.

The Commons’ Exiting the EU Committee said Home Office plans to offer EU nationals a digital code to prove their status risked causing confusion, and could even result in people losing access to housing and jobs.