Michael Gove makes statement on Operation Yellowhammer

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster told MPs:

"The Government is determined to secure a good deal with our EU partners and negotiations have been led by the Prime Minister, the Brexit Secretary and the Foreign secretary, and those negotiations have seen significant movements over recent weeks.

Until recently the EU has maintained that the Withdrawal Agreement was sacrosanct, but now they have acknowledged that it can be changed.

And up until this point, the EU have also said that the backstop was inviolable, but again, European leaders have said they are not emotionally attached to the backstop and there are other ways of ensuring we can safeguard the gains of the Good Friday Belfast Agreement." 

Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, Keir Starmer said,

“What this statement significantly and studiously avoids is actually giving any detail of the scenario that we're told the Government's Civil Contingency Secretariat has drawn up.”

• Watch Parliament TV: Statement on Brexit readiness and Operation Yellowhammer
• Read the Commons Transcript: Statement  on Brexit readiness and Operation Yellowhammer
• Commons Library: Brexit briefings

Image: PC

Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.

Please fill in our quick feedback survey to help us improve our news content.