Have talked to officials across a number of depts in Whitehall. As I reported on #Newsnight just now they are expecting an extension to the Brexit transition period. One told me: “if it doesn’t come I just don’t know what we’ll do- with coronavirus we realistically can’t do both”
Am told that senior civil servants in a number of departments are in the process of impressing upon their respective ministers, the difficulties that no Brexit transition extension would generate.
Other scenario civil servants think possible is a deal which is basically an extension. An agreement where both sides agree to extend current arrangements in a whole host of areas, with what replaces them to be decided much later.
