Recruiting from the EU in the event of No Deal

I am studiously avoiding the politics of this, but I think the essence of if will pivot round one of three outcomes - one, the deal proposed by the PM is agreed by the House, and therefore the transition arrangements are in play. This is exceptionally unlikely. Second, there is no deal, at which point we realise that there is currently no agreed Plan B. Regardless of the regulations surrounding it, and how quickly a solution, points or skills based can be cobbled together, I think that the likelihood of an EU national choosing to come to the UK range from slim to none, certainly in the short term and until there is clarity one way or the other. Current arrangements cannot continue, as we have no clarity on whether free movement of British citizens will continue, so its not status quo, and at the moment not even quid pro quo. The third option, which looks more likely, is that all bets are off, and not only don't we know the decision that may be taken, at the moment it looks likely that the House will drive the agenda rather than the PM or the Government, in a welcome outbreak of democracy which looks more likely than not to lead to a General Election and - as a minimum - an extension.

From my own experience the impact of the uncertainty is clear and prescient now, and I know for a fact many EU nationals are leaving the UK, leaving behind attractive jobs - but with no-one to fill them.

I hope I have avoided a partisan view point...

We can only wait to see how events play out. Will May resign if she is heavily defeated? Would this mean a Brexiteer PM put in place or a General Election? Will the Grieve-led rebels 'take back control' and cancel the whole thing?

One can only assume that some clever people in the Civil Service are war-gaming every possible outcome. May is at pains to say that it's 'her deal, no deal or no Brexit' but I would hope that a responsible government is prepared for every eventuality.

Daniel

I hate to break it to you, but after 7 years in Whitehall where I was lucky to learn that neither Yes Minister or The Thick of It are in any way satirical, I can assure you that they are not. We are 2.5 years past making the decision to leave, and creating the requirement to formulate trade agreements, immigration policy et. with every other trading block and country in the world - and unless its happened this morning, we have none, and two months to do it in. There is no trade or freedom of movement backstop if there is no deal - movement of people and goods stops immediately.

Daniel

I hate to break it to you, but after 7 years in Whitehall where I was lucky to learn that neither Yes Minister or The Thick of It are in any way satirical, I can assure you that they are not. We are 2.5 years past making the decision to leave, and creating the requirement to formulate trade agreements, immigration policy et. with every other trading block and country in the world - and unless its happened this morning, we have none, and two months to do it in. There is no trade or freedom of movement backstop if there is no deal - movement of people and goods stops immediately.

I read a report from an anonymous civil servant that No Deal planning is actually well-advanced and it is part of the Government's scare tactics to pretend that it isn't:

www.politicshome.com/.../anonymous-civil-servant-blasts-claims-uk-not-prepared-no

The Port of Calais has been preparing for No Deal for a year to keep the lorries rolling:

www.express.co.uk/.../Brexit-news-no-deal-Theresa-May-port-delays-BBC-Today-Calais-Dover-EU

It would be a gross dereliction of duty for the government to call a referendum, vote to trigger Article 50 and then do no planning. Little deals are being done on medicine, flights, driving licenses etc. I suspect that it will be the 'little people' on the ground who will make Brexit work.