Sadiq Khan: With the prospect of a no-deal Brexit looming heavily, I’m preparing London for the worst There are many differing views on Brexit. But one thing is incontrovertible: with just months to go, we should not be in this position

Like the overwhelming majority of Londoners, I voted for Britain to remain in the European Union at the referendum two years ago. I believed that staying in the EU was the best way to protect Londoners jobs, economic growth and workers’ rights.

Although extremely disappointed by the result, I respect the will of the people. So I’ve spent the last two years attempting to push the Government towards a deal that protects jobs and growth by staying in the Customs Union and the Single Market.

‘Few – if any – thought that any government would ever lead us down a path where this was even a possibility’ i's opinion newsletter: talking points from today Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

During the referendum, there was very little talk about the prospect of Britain crashing out of EU with no deal at all. Few – if any – thought that any government would ever lead us down a path where this was even a possibility, and it certainly wasn’t presented as a realistic scenario by the Vote Leave campaign.

But, thanks to a catalogue of errors, and the Government’s complete mishandling of the Brexit negotiations from the start, we are now in a position where even key Cabinet ministers admit that crashing out of the EU with no deal is now the most likely outcome.

We should not be in this position

There are many passionate, differing views on Brexit. But one thing is incontrovertible: with just months to go until we are due to leave the EU officially, we should not be in this situation – where people’s jobs, our economy and our future prosperity could be put at such grave risk.

As Mayor, I have been left with no choice but to plan in London for the worst possible scenario from the negotiations – a no-deal Brexit.

As part of this, I’ve asked the London Resilience Forum, the partnership responsible for ensuring London’s preparedness in the event of emergencies, to establish the impact of a no-deal Brexit on critical areas such as access to medicines, energy and food, as well as the ability to maintain emergency care, law and order. The partnership represents more than 170 organisations ranging from the emergency services, local authorities and the NHS to utilities and transport providers.

‘It is also vital that businesses and organisations get the advice and support they need to start planning for the chaos of a no-deal Brexit’

It is also vital that businesses and organisations get the advice and support they need to start planning for the chaos of a no-deal Brexit – before it’s too late. That’s why, as the Prime Minister continues to drag her feet, I am consulting widely across London’s business community to determine exactly what support businesses need from the Government – and to identify where City Hall can step in and fill the gap.

3.8 million EU citizens left with no guarantee of their rights

One of the biggest threats facing businesses and employers is undoubtedly the growing chance that they could lose their European employees. The Government’s current offer of ‘settled status’ relies on the success of the Brexit negotiations. Applications for ‘settled status’ are only due to fully open by 30 March 2019 – the day after we leave the EU – and the whole system is based upon securing a transitional deal so that the ‘free movement of people’ continues during the application process.

With a no deal Brexit, there would most likely be no transition deal at all. This means that the estimated 3.8 million EU citizens living in the UK – around one million of whom are Londoners – would have no guarantee that their rights to stay and work would be protected.

The Government must offer settled status, regardless of the outcome

We must never forget that when we talk about EU citizens in our country we are talking about our friends, our neighbours and our colleagues – people who not only make a massive contribution to our economy, but to our society and our thriving communities too. In London, EU citizens make up 32 per cent of the construction sector and 11 per cent of health and social posts – all critical jobs that help grow our economy and keep our vital public services functioning.

Tomorrow, the Government is expected to begin publishing ‘technical notes’ around its preparations for a no-deal Brexit. As part of this, the Prime Minister must do the only sensible and humane thing and extend the offer of ‘settled status’ to EU citizens currently living in the UK, regardless of the outcome of the negotiations.