Dear John,

No-deal Brexit would overwhelm us, say local emergency teams.

Local disaster planning has already been exhausted by the coronavirus crisis – adding no-deal Brexit preparation would be overwhelming.

A failure to extend the transition period could risk compounding "Covid-19 with a second UK societal-wide, economic and social, chronic threat”, according to leaked Whitehall report, revealed in the Guardian this morning.

This is just what we feared. With UK-EU negotiations impeded by global lockdown, the UK is fast approach a double-whammy hit of a no-deal Brexit and coronavirus. Response teams who are already struggling would be overwhelmed, and the most vulnerable would pay the price.

The deadline to request an extension is little more than a month away. We must act now to protect communities across the UK. Sign the petition to get transition extended.

Even now, no-deal preparation is stealing time and resources from emergency teams, who are battling every day to manage the coronavirus crisis. We can change that, simply by extending transition, and giving the UK more time to secure a better deal.

Local disaster planning is already stretched nearly to capacity. These people are on the frontlines of the fight against the Covid-19. They more than anyone understand the burden this pandemic has placed on local services and communities. When they say no-deal would be a disaster, we should listen.

You can make a difference, and help alleviate the pressure – please, sign the petition to extend transition today.

Extending transition would be a painless way to help struggling emergency response teams and would allow countless businesses more time to prepare for the UK’s exit from Europe.

If the Government is serious about protecting those who protect us, then the transition period must be delayed beyond December.

Best wishes,

Naomi Smith
CEO, Best for Britain

P.S. Local emergency teams, stretched to breaking by Covid-19, have warned they would be overwhelmed by the pressures brought by a no-deal exit from Europe in December. Sign the petition to extend the transition period here, and alleviate the pressure on our local responders.