Remember all the times that ministers told us they were making contingency preparations for no-deal Brexit, setting aside £3bn and appointing a no-deal minister etc...?
Well, according to a letter from Davis to May (leaked to FT) they are now consulting lawyers about EU's own contingency preparations for a no-deal Brexit. Here's the scoop.
ft.com/content/7306b9…
ft.com/content/7306b9…
In the words of @patmcfaddenmp: "It seems extraordinary that the government is exercised about the EU preparing for a no deal scenario when it has set aside £3bn in its most recent Budget to do exactly the same thing..."
Key to Dexeu complaint is that EU - in its advice to companies - is ignoring likelihood that UK will get a 2-year transition period. Davis has urged May to call on Commission to withdraw the advice and has consulted lawyers....
Unfortunately for David Davis his lawyers have warned him that government has "low" chance of successful legal action vs EU, and it would be costly and politically risky amp.ft.com/content/7306b9…
Will post the full letter in a little while...,
Here's the leaked letter from Davis to May about the threat to British jobs from EU "no deal" preparations 
Commission spokesman all deadpan just now: "We in the European Commission we are surprised that the United Kingdom is surprised that we are preparing for a scenario announced by the UK government itself."
