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Queen to be 'evacuated' from London in case of Brexit unrest: Report

Sunday, 03 February 2019 10:51 AM [ Last Update: Sunday, 03 February 2019 11:33 AM ]

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II departs the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, eastern England, on December 25, 2018. (Photo by AFP)

British officials have reportedly revived emergency plans to relocate Queen Elizabeth in the event of riot caused by a disruptive Brexit.

The plan to dust off a Cold War emergency mechanism to relocate the royal family comes as leaving the European Union without a deal becomes increasingly likely.

"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," a cabinet office source told The Sunday Times.

Experts, business groups and MPs – including cabinet members – have warned about the outcomes of a no-deal Brexit, including civil unrest, food and medicine shortages and gridlock.

Prime Minister Theresa May is struggling to get parliamentary support for a Brexit transition agreement with the EU before March 29, when Britain is set to officially leave the bloc.

May faced a crushing defeat on January 15 in the House of Commons over the draft Brexit deal she had signed with the EU last year. The Commons then allowed her to try to gain concessions from the bloc on a controversial clause in the deal on the future of the Irish border so that the agreement could become more palatable for the parliament.

PressTV-UK parliament roundly rejects May's Brexit deal

British lawmakers vote down Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal by a wide margin.

However, many fear May could lose a final vote on the revised version of the Brexit deal, if such a deal is agreed with the EU, making it highly possible for Britain to leave the bloc in a disorderly manner.

Her spokesman Saturday rejected reports about the government’s attempt to buy the vote of Labour MPs in predominantly Leave-supporting constituencies, saying any investment to tackle inequality could not be called "cash for votes."