// BRC rejects Michael Gove’s claim in House of Commons that retail is ready for no-deal Brexit
// Gove is Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, meaning he is responsible for ensuring the UK is Brexit-ready
The British Retail Consortium has hit back at Michael Gove’s claim that the country’s retail industry is “ready” for a no-deal Brexit scenario.
The BRC said that while retailers were doing everything they can to prepare for the October 31 deadline, “there are limits to what can be done”.
The lobby group made the remarks in a statement that was circulated after Gove told the House of Commons yesterday that retail was “ready” for a no-deal Brexit, in response to a question from shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer about industry preparations.
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Gove is the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, which means he is the MP responsible for ensuring the UK is ready to leave the EU on October 31, with or without a deal.
Responding to Gove, a BRC spokesman said: “It is impossible to completely mitigate the significant disruption which would be caused by no deal.
“Checks and delays at the border, limited warehousing capacity in the run up to Black Friday and Christmas, and the increased reliance on imported fruit and vegetables through the winter months mean that popular goods, such as strawberries, tomatoes and lettuce, would likely see reduced availability, and higher prices.”
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