LONDON (Reuters) - British officials have revived Cold War emergency plans to relocate the royal family should there be riots in London if Britain suffers a disruptive departure from the European Union next month, two Sunday newspapers reported.
"These emergency evacuation plans have been in existence since the Cold War, but have now been repurposed in the event of civil disorder following a no-deal Brexit," the Sunday Times said, quoting an unnamed source from the government's Cabinet Office, which handles sensitive administrative issues.
The Mail on Sunday also said it had learnt of plans to move the royal family, including The Queen, to safe locations away from London.
Britain's government is struggling to get parliamentary support for a Brexit transition agreement with the EU before the departure date of March 29, and the government and businesses are preparing contingency plans for a 'no-deal' Brexit.
Business groups have warned of widespread disruption if there are lengthy delays to EU imports due to new customs checks, and even possible shortages of food and medicine.
Last month an annual speech by the 92-year-old queen to a local women's group was widely interpreted in Britain as a call for politicians to reach agreement over Brexit.
It was hard not to open the Sunday Times homepage this morning and think "eh, maybe just a little OTT?"
I think this story is basically equivalent to, say, the American "War Plan Red" and assuming that this was an *actual* plan to invade the British Empire, rather than just an extreme contingency designed to make sure that the US Military could be ready for anything.
There will obviously be a well planned procedure in place in the event of ANY sort of trouble in London which the home office / MI5 think might reach the gates of Buck House. Linking it to Brexit is pretty lazy journalism.
So they are proud of being true Londoners during the war but can't face a few protesters....who will probably go nowhere near the Palace. They will not be well thought of if they do move out...
It isn’t “scaremongering” if it’s true. It might be over-caution, which isn’t the same thing.
Plainly there are also plans for martial law, but then maybe there always are ...
I can’t see any rioting if we don’t leave the EU: what, after all, would there be to riot about.
To be honest I can’t really see the thousands of redundant car workers after a no deal Brexit rioting either. Who would THEY be rioting against? Themselves?
Absurd spin by Reuters, a notorious 'remain' agency, passed on by The Sunday Times -ditto, and first prize for project fear. How (and why) would the Queen be in any danger whatsoever?
If Martial Law is to be imposed then lets get DORA back on the statute books poste haste. That way all those spreading 'alarm and despondency' can be banged up pronto including leaked government sources and Editors of the rags for printing this drivel.
Project fear is in full swing, and the usual suspects on here are right beind it.
It has become laughable now and shows the sheer desperation of the extreme Remainiacs.
As TTT, only expect riots if the majority are ignored, although I am pretty sure we will aslo struggle with these extreme remainers that are embedded in the civil service and such like doing their damnedest to knacker the UK to prove a point.