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Brexit Question Time: Davis, Salmond and Clegg on panel David Davis: 'Huge contingency plan' for no-deal Brexit
(35 minutes later)
Brexit Secretary David Davis and other leading politicians are featuring in a special live edition of the BBC's Question Time. The government has a "huge contingency plan" for the UK leaving the EU without a deal, the Brexit secretary says.
The Britain after Brexit debate is live on BBC One. David Davis said the government had spent the nine months since June's Brexit vote preparing a plan.
Former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond and ex-Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg are also on the six-strong panel, as is Labour's Keir Starmer. He was speaking on a special edition of the BBC's Question Time, ahead of the formal Brexit notification on Wednesday.
The event in Birmingham comes two days before Theresa May informs the EU of the UK's intention to leave. Prime Minister Theresa May will invoke Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which begins the negotiation process.
Former UKIP deputy chairwoman Suzanne Evans and Melanie Phillips, a columnist on the Times and social commentator, are also on the panel. During the Britain after Brexit debate the panellists, who included former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond and Labour Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer, were asked what would happen if no deal was reached.
Mr Davis said it was not a scenario the government wanted to see, but added: "We have got a huge contingency plan, exercised across all of these issues, every department of government."
Mr Salmond said the government's view that no deal is better than a bad deal was "nonsensical".
But UKIP's Suzanne Evans criticised "hyperbole" about "crashing out" of the EU.
On Wednesday, the prime minister will send a letter to the president of the European Council telling him officially that the UK wants to leave.On Wednesday, the prime minister will send a letter to the president of the European Council telling him officially that the UK wants to leave.
Triggering what is known as the Article 50, the letter will set in motion a two-year process in which the terms of the UK's departure from the EU will be hammered out, as will the outline of the UK's future relationship with the remaining 27 EU members. Triggering Article 50, the letter will set in motion a two-year process in which the terms of the UK's departure from the EU will be hammered out, as will the outline of the UK's future relationship with the remaining 27 EU members.
As things stands, the UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 although this deadline could be extended if both sides agree. As things stand, the UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 although this deadline could be extended if both sides agree.
More than 33.5 million people voted in a referendum last June on the UK's future in the EU. They voted to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%.More than 33.5 million people voted in a referendum last June on the UK's future in the EU. They voted to leave by a margin of 51.9% to 48.1%.