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Brexit planners are looking at the possibility of imposing martial law in Britain in the event of a “no-deal”, it has emerged.

Legislation which gives ministers the powers to impose curfews and travel bans, confiscate property and deploy the armed forces is being examined by Whitehall officials, the Sunday Times reports.

Powers available under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 could be used to stop civil disobedience after Britain leaves the EU, according to the newspaper.

A source was quoted as saying: “The over-riding them in all the no-deal planning is civil disobedience and the fear that it will lead to death in the event of food and medical shortages.”

The move has been described by sources as the civil service "prepping" for all possibilities.

The revelation came as further Government splits emerged over whether Britain should quit the EU without an agreement as Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood broke ranks and insisted a no deal scenario must be ruled out.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: "Respecting the referendum decision means leaving the EU.

"The PM has said that there will be disruption in the event of no deal, but as a responsible Government we are taking the appropriate steps to minimise this disruption and ensure the country is prepared."

In other measures the Government sought to extend working hours for MPs in order to get Brexit legislation through the Commons before the scheduled EU withdrawal date of March 29.

Brexit: Meaningful Vote - In Pictures 29 show all Brexit: Meaningful Vote - In Pictures 1/29 A Leaver and a pro-European demonstrator argue during protests opposite the Houses of Parliament in London AP 2/29 A police officer extinguishes a flag that was set alight by pro-Brexit protestors outside the Houses of Parliament PA 3/29 An anti-Brexit protester dressed in a Theresa May costume recreates a scene from the 1997 film 'Titanic, EPA 4/29 Pro Brexit supporters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 5/29 PA 6/29 John Bercow speaks in the House of Commons Sky News 7/29 Pro-Brexit protestors outside the Houses of Parliament, London PA 8/29 Prime Minister Theresa May listens to the Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, speak in the House of Commons ahead of the Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 9/29 Pro Brexit supporters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 10/29 Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Reuters 11/29 Effigies of Prime Minister Theresa May, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, current Environment Secretary Michael Gove and former Brexit secretary David Davis, are driven past the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 12/29 Former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Arlene Foster, Conservative Peer Lord Lilley and former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis speak to the media during a press conference to offer an alternative Brexit plan Getty Images 13/29 Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks to the media outside the Palace of Westminster Getty Images 14/29 Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters 15/29 Former leader of UKIP Nigel Farage speaks to the media as Pro-Brexit and Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters 16/29 Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray outside the Houses of Parliament, London PA 17/29 Pro EU protesters and Pro Leave protesters demonstrate outside Parliament EPA 18/29 A man dressed to imitate former foreign secretary Boris Johnson holds a fake bank note for 350 million pounds outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images 19/29 A pro-Brexit 'battle bus' (L) drives past a mix of pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images 20/29 Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray (left) talks with a Brexiteer outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 21/29 A pro-European demonstrator sings during a protest opposite the Houses of Parliament AP 22/29 Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes leaves 10 Downing Street, London, following a cabinet meeting, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 23/29 Anti-Brexit and Pro-Brexit protesters fly flags outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 24/29 Theresa May leaves a cabinet meeting at Downing Street AP 25/29 A pro remain supporter wears anti brexit badges on his hat, during protests outside of the Parliament EPA 26/29 Anti and pro Brexit placards are displayed outside of the Parliament EPA 27/29 Anti-Brexit supporters hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images 28/29 Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images 29/29 Pro-Brexit supporters hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images 1/29 A Leaver and a pro-European demonstrator argue during protests opposite the Houses of Parliament in London AP 2/29 A police officer extinguishes a flag that was set alight by pro-Brexit protestors outside the Houses of Parliament PA 3/29 An anti-Brexit protester dressed in a Theresa May costume recreates a scene from the 1997 film 'Titanic, EPA 4/29 Pro Brexit supporters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 5/29 PA 6/29 John Bercow speaks in the House of Commons Sky News 7/29 Pro-Brexit protestors outside the Houses of Parliament, London PA 8/29 Prime Minister Theresa May listens to the Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox, speak in the House of Commons ahead of the Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 9/29 Pro Brexit supporters outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 10/29 Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament in London Reuters 11/29 Effigies of Prime Minister Theresa May, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, current Environment Secretary Michael Gove and former Brexit secretary David Davis, are driven past the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 12/29 Former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union Dominic Raab, Leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Arlene Foster, Conservative Peer Lord Lilley and former Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union David Davis speak to the media during a press conference to offer an alternative Brexit plan Getty Images 13/29 Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg speaks to the media outside the Palace of Westminster Getty Images 14/29 Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters 15/29 Former leader of UKIP Nigel Farage speaks to the media as Pro-Brexit and Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament Reuters 16/29 Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray outside the Houses of Parliament, London PA 17/29 Pro EU protesters and Pro Leave protesters demonstrate outside Parliament EPA 18/29 A man dressed to imitate former foreign secretary Boris Johnson holds a fake bank note for 350 million pounds outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images 19/29 A pro-Brexit 'battle bus' (L) drives past a mix of pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images 20/29 Anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray (left) talks with a Brexiteer outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 21/29 A pro-European demonstrator sings during a protest opposite the Houses of Parliament AP 22/29 Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes leaves 10 Downing Street, London, following a cabinet meeting, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 23/29 Anti-Brexit and Pro-Brexit protesters fly flags outside the Houses of Parliament, London, ahead of the House of Commons vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal PA 24/29 Theresa May leaves a cabinet meeting at Downing Street AP 25/29 A pro remain supporter wears anti brexit badges on his hat, during protests outside of the Parliament EPA 26/29 Anti and pro Brexit placards are displayed outside of the Parliament EPA 27/29 Anti-Brexit supporters hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images 28/29 Anti-Brexit demonstrators hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images 29/29 Pro-Brexit supporters hold up placards outside Parliament AFP/Getty Images

Responding to news the Government was looking at the possibility of a martial law scenario, Labour MP and Best for Britain campaign supporter, David Lammy said: "This is a full-blown crisis.

"The Government is recklessly drawing up plans for a colossal act of self-harm.

"Through continuing on the path to Brexit, despite having achieved no consensus on a deal in Parliament, the Government is preparing to declare war on itself.

"The idea that the Government has any mandate for this catastrophic scenario is ludicrous.

"The Leave campaign promised a stable new trading relationship with the EU after Brexit, not total isolation and soldiers in our airports."

Despite Prime Minister Theresa May refusing to take the prospect of a no deal off the table, Mr Ellwood wrote in the Sunday Times: "It is now time to rule out the very possibility of no deal.

"It is wrong for Government and business to invest any more time and money in a no deal outcome which will make us poorer, weaker and smaller in the eyes of the world."

Also writing in the Sunday Times, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom branded bids by some backbench MPs to kill no deal as an option via a series of Commons amendments on Tuesday as a "thinly veiled attempt to stop Brexit".

In a bid to try and ensure Brexit legislation gets through the Commons and Lords in time for the planned March exit, Parliament's February recess is to be cancelled, and MPs will be made to start earlier and finish later on sitting days.

The move comes after the Commons Leader suggested that leaving the EU might need to be delayed by "a couple of weeks" in order to get all the legislation through.

Reports that the Number 10 chief of staff Gavin Barwell had criticised the role of the Prime Minister's husband Philip May in Brexit discussions were dismissed as "utter bunkum" by a Downing street spokesperson.