Martial law could be used to quash civil unrest in the event of a no-deal Brexit Ministers may pass legislation to deploy the military, impose curfews, travel bans and more

Whitehall officials planning for the event of a no-deal Brexit are looking at the possibility of bringing in martial law to dispel potential civil unrest.

Ministers are examining how to use the powers available under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 to impose travel bans, curfews, confiscate property and send out the armed forces.

“The over-riding theme 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,” a source told the Sunday Times.

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“Although there is nothing that can replicate the scale of chaos threatened by a no-deal Brexit, which will be about a thousand times worse than the volcanic ash cloud crisis, this is about the closest example we have in modern British history.

“The only other thing that would be comparable would be something like a major Europe-wide war.”

‘A colossal act of self-harm’

The source also told the Sunday Times that planners were using the chaos caused by the volcanic ash in Iceland during 2010 as a template for dealing with potential disruption.

Labour MP David Lammy declared that the threat of no-deal Brexit was a “full blown crisis”.

“The government is recklessly drawing up plans for a colossal act of self-harm,” he said.

“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.”

“Respecting the referendum decision means leaving the EU,” a No.10 spokesperson told Sky News.

“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.”

‘Poorer, weaker and smaller’

The news comes amid growing calls from MPs across all parties to Theresa May to take the option of exiting the EU without a deal off the table.

Defence minister Tobias Ellwood told the Sunday Times: “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.”

Amber Rudd and Justice Secretary David Gauke have also broken ranks to demand an end to talk of no-deal Brexit.

Meanwhile, Commons leader Andrea Leadsome urged cabinet ministers on Friday to back the Government stance of leaving ‘no-deal’ a possibility. However, she admitted that leaving the EU could more sensibly be delayed “by a couple of weeks”.

An amendment tabled by Labour MP Yvette Cooper could see Article 50 extended by nine months if it passes a vote during the debate on Brexit ‘Plan B’ on Tuesday.

See all the amendments set to be tabled on Tuesday in full here.