
• Most Brits believe a no-deal Brexit is likely, according to a new poll.
• 54% told a survey that no deal was likely and 70% said they believed prices would rise as a result.
• The UK government will publish its first batch of no-deal Brexit technical notes on Thursday.
• The Brexit Secretary dismissed reports of food and medicine shortages as "hair-raising scare stories" this week.

LONDON — The public expects the United Kingdom to leave the European Union with no deal, and prices to rise as a result, according to a poll published as Theresa May's government prepares to disclose its no deal planning.

A KPMG survey of over 3,000 people found that all demographic groups believe a no deal Brexit is more likely than not. Overall, 54% said no deal was likely, while 20% said it was unlikely.

On Thursday morning, the UK government will publish its first batch of technical notices advising businesses and consumers on the preparation being done for the prospect of there being no Brexit deal.

The government has been warned that a no deal Brexit would create delays at British ports, make food and medicines harder to get hold of and leave millions of EU citizens in legal limbo, among other potential complications.

KPMG's poll found that 70% of respondents believed prices would rise as a result of there being no Brexit deal by the time the UK leaves the EU, and 69% said they would change their consumer behaviour accordingly.

Nearly half of respondents said no deal would be bad for the country, while 25% said it would be good.

The findings of KPMG's survey come after Dominic Raab, the UK Brexit Secretary, described reports about the chaos that no deal Brexit could unleash on the UK as "hair-raising scare stories" that are "very far from the truth."

Despite concern that Brexit will make day-to-day life more expensive, there has been no clear shift in opinion on the question of whether the UK should go ahead with its departure, according to KPMG's poll.

89% Leave voters said they would vote the same way if asked again, while 93% of Remain voters said the same.

Chuka Umunna, a supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum, said: "The political establishment is leading our country towards a chaotic no deal Brexit, and the British people are bracing themselves for the impact.

He added: "We are speeding head-first towards a botched Brexit or a no-deal Brexit, and people are preparing to tighten their belts by cutting back on spending as a result."

The Labour MP added: "If we allow that to happen, the economic ripple effect will be felt for generations. Falling consumer spending would mean shops closing, high streets dying and jobs disappearing."</s>Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz addresses the media after a cabinet meeting in Vienna, Austria, August 22, 2018. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader

BERLIN (Reuters) - Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, said on Thursday he wanted to help the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator avoid a hard Brexit.

With little more than seven months to go until it leaves the EU on March 29, Britain has yet to reach an agreement with the bloc on the terms of its departure. Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for a “business-friendly” deal has failed to impress negotiators in Brussels and has been heavily criticized at home.

Austria will host a meeting of EU leaders in Salzburg on Sept. 20 with time pressing to clinch a deal to prevent Britain crashing out of the bloc that its people voted to leave in 2016.

“It was probably the worst decision of recent years - Britain’s decision to leave the European Union,” Kurz told a rally of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservatives in Erfurt to applause. “But the decision was taken and now it is about ensuring that contact remains good.”

“Britain is militarily, politically and economically tremendously significant on our continent,” he said, adding that securing a good relationship was important to prevent further Brexit fallout for both Britain and the EU.

“Our big goal is to make a contribution during the presidency so that our chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, can continue to successfully lead the member states together, so that we can bring about a deal with Britain to avoid a hard Brexit and to secure an orderly future together,” Kurz said.

Britain on Thursday told companies trading with the European Union they would face a tangle of red tape, possible border delays and more costly credit card payments if the government fails to negotiate an exit deal before Britain leaves the bloc.

After more than 40 years in the EU, Britain is having to set out its plans for every aspect of life.

Barnier said on Tuesday a deal with Britain was needed “not much later” than in early November and that the bloc was not working toward a “no-deal” Brexit, though it had to prepare for it.</s>A no-deal Brexit would be "disastrous for Scotland" and "should not even be contemplated", Michael Russell has said.

The Scottish constitutional relations secretary accused UK ministers of "rattling sabres" with the EU about the possibility leaving the bloc without a trade deal.

He also reiterated the Scottish Government's view that Downing Street should commit to retaining Britain's membership of the European single market and customs union.

It comes as UK ministers published a series of technical notices (TNs) advising businesses and the public on how to prepare for a no-deal scenario.

However, the UK's Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, outlining the plans earlier on Thursday, stressed that coming to a deal with EU negotiators remained the government's priority and expectation.

If the UK was to fail to come to an agreement with Brussels, it would leave the European Union without a deal on March 30 next year.

The most pressing issue for businesses which trade with the EU highlighted in the new papers would be the necessary establishment of customs checks in the event of no deal - which may require new software and logistical support for companies.

A TN also explained that without a deal, UK-based payment service providers would lose direct access to the EU's payment infrastructure, meaning a rise in debit and credit card charges.

Another paper said that new medicines would need UK rather than EU approval before they could be made available to patients, while pharmacists have also been advised to stockpile an extra six weeks' worth of medicines.

The Prime Minister's deputy, David Lidington, was in Edinburgh earlier on Thursday and denied that a no-deal Brexit would imperil Scotland's place in the UK.

The Cabinet Office minister said it remained in the best interests of all parts of the UK to get a deal with the EU based on the Chequers plan agreed in July.

Lidington insisted there are "powerful and persuasive" arguments in favour of keeping the union together even if Britain crashed out of the European Union with no final agreement.

But speaking to STV News, Russell said it was the Scottish Government's position that the UK should rule out a no-deal scenario.

He said: "A no deal Brexit would be disastrous for Scotland.

"It's very difficult to anticipate a no-deal Brexit because, by definition, it's never happened before.

"But it would mean a huge dislocation, for example, in trade if there was no customs deal, or aviation deals, or travel deals.

"It's not something that should even be contemplated."

The minister continued: "We've saying for a long time to the UK Government that the best thing is to stay in the EU, but if you're not going to do that, commit yourselves to the single market and the customs union - the best way of having stability.

"That option is still open and it is utterly ridiculous that the UK Government is talking about a no-deal Brexit - they should be ruling it out."

He added: "The Scottish Government will do everything it can to prepare for that eventuality but the obligation is also on us to say: 'This should never happened and there is a way out of this.'"

Russell also personally criticised Lidington for not requesting a meeting with the Scottish Government "on the very day" the TNs were issued.

But Lidington insisted Brexit discussions with the devolved administrations had been "constructive and business-like", with Scottish and Welsh ministers given input into the notices.

The Cabinet Office minister said: "We've taken very careful steps to try and identify those areas of no-deal planning where devolved competency is involved."

He added: "The texts of the TNs certainly went to the devolved governments for comment and in the case of certain technical notices they were amended by us as a result of comments from either Scotland or Wales.

"There were some which, when I saw in draft, I said, 'hang on, you've not given enough thought to the fact there is devolved competence here, that needs to be spelled out'.

"I'll accept that there needs to be continuing awareness in Whitehall about the fact that we are operating in a constitution where significant areas of policy delivery are devolved in both Scotland and Wales, and that departments needs to be alive to that in their drafting and in their consultation processes."

On if a no-deal Brexit would jeopardise the future of the union, Lidington said: "I think that the merits of the union of the United Kingdom are still there and are still very powerful and persuasive regardless of the outcome to the European negotiations.

"The UK Government is absolutely determined to get a deal and a deal that works well for all parts of the United Kingdom.

"But I think if you look at this just in crude business and economic terms, I think the value to Scotland of the single market of the United Kingdom, the ability to buy and sell in every part of the United Kingdom, is something that is of huge value to businesses and customers in Scotland."

Download: The STV News app is Scotland's favourite and is available for iPhone from the App store and for Android from Google Play. Download it today and continue to enjoy STV News wherever you are.</s>The Austrian Chancellor offered to step in to help the European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier as he still has not secured a deal with just seven months to go until Britain leaves. Talks have hit a deadlock over several key issues including the future of the Irish border and post-Brexit trade ties. But Mr Kurz, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said it was crucial for the UK and EU to reach an agreement and "secure an orderly future together". At a rally for German Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, Mr Kurz said: "Britain's decision to leave the EU was probably the worst decision of recent years.

"But the decision was taken and now it is about ensuring that contact remains good. "Britain is militarily, politically and economically tremendously significant on our continent. "Our big goal is to make a contribution during the presidency so that our chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, can continue to successfully lead the member states together, so that we can bring about a deal with Britain to avoid a hard Brexit and to secure an orderly future together." The right winger added that securing a good relationship was important to prevent further Brexit fallout for both Britain and the EU.

Mr Kurz comments, in Erfurt, Germany, came after a meeting with Theresa May in Salzburg last month where he suggested Brexit was "negative". Speaking at a press conference with the Prime Minister, he said: "The Brexit decision is a decision we see very negatively. "But, of course, it has been taken by the British people so now we have to find a way to deal with it. "From our point of view it is important to avoid a hard Brexit."

As the documents were released, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the Government "stands ready" for such an outcome. Mr Rabb vowed to help "manage and mitigate the risks" of a no-deal and "seize the opportunities that lie ahead". And he said "lives and livelihoods" in both the EU and UK should be "put ahead of any narrow political interest".</s>Brussels: The European Union (EU)'s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has said the bloc's Brexit negotiations with Britain are now entering the final stage.

Negotiations on the Brexit deal resumed on Tuesday after the summer break, Xinhua news agency reported.

Discussions between Britain's Brexit minister Dominic Raab and Barnier have focused on three work streams, including a backstop solution for avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, the other outstanding issues of the Withdrawal Agreement, for instance, the protection of existing Geographical Indications, and the political declaration on the EU-Britain future relationship.

"The negotiations are now entering the final stage. We have agreed that the EU and the UK will negotiate continuously from now on," said Barnier in a statement.

"Our challenge for the coming weeks is to try and define an ambitious partnership between the UK and the EU. A partnership that has no precedent," he said.

He added this partnership has to respect the single market and the foundations of the European project.</s>The Brexit talks have become stuck on key issues, including how to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland, and on the future trading relationship

London and Brussels will start rolling Brexit negotiations in the final phase of talks as fears grow that Britain could leave the European Union next year without a deal, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said yesterday.

"The negotiations are now entering the final stage. We have agreed that the EU and the UK will negotiate continuously from now on," Barnier said after meeting the UK's Brexit minister Dominic Raab in Brussels. "Dominic and I will meet regularly to take stock and move the negotiations forward."

The Brexit talks have become stuck on key issues, including how to avoid a hard border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland, and on the future trading relationship.

The two sides have just a few months before an agreement on Britain's divorce from the European Union -- set for March 29, 2019 -- must be forged in principle by October or November. Raab -- whose predecessor David Davis resigned in July over differences with Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiating strategy -- said that he would be back in Brussels next week for further talks.

"We have agreed that we need to step up the intensity of the negotiations," he added. "If we have that ambition, that pragmatism, that energy on both sides, I'm confident we can reach a deal in October," he said. Until now there have been separate "rounds" of Brexit talks every few weeks, but the pace has increased noticeably since Raab took over from Davis.

Raab played down talk of a "no deal" scenario, saying only that Britain had to be ready for "all eventualities". "Our actions speak louder than words. We're out here, I'm here seeing Michel again, I should be returning next week. We're going to be picking up the intensity of the negotiations - we agree on that - at a political level," he said.

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates

This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever</s>UK ministers have leapt into action for emergency talks after the Frenchman revealed he and Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab are yet to fully resolve the Irish backstop, outstanding withdrawal agreement issues and a political declaration on the future relationship. Michel Barnier met with Mr Raab in Brussels yesterday and told a press conference: "If you count backwards from that date, March 30 2019, the day on which the UK will no longer be a member of the European Union – while remaining for 21 months, if we reach an agreement, in the single market, customs union and European policies – the countdown backwards from there has to take account of the time which is necessary for ratification. “That is a given, it will take a certain amount of time to ratify the agreement – on the UK side and the European side. "That takes us for a final agreement on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration well before the end of the year – I'm not going to say October, a few days here, the beginning of November, but not much later than that."

FOLLOW OUR BLOG BELOW FOR THE LATEST UPDATES ON BREXIT. Business Secretary Greg Clark held urgent talks with officials in Dublin easier this month on an emergency agreement around Northern Ireland in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Downing Street wants to avoid publishing plans for a worst-case scenario that would include importing thousands of generators north of the border. The electricity industry has operated a single wholesale market across the island of Ireland since 2007 but is underpinned by EU law and without legal clarity, Northern Ireland could be left short of supplies in the event of a messy Brexit divorce. But the energy issue will not be among those covered by Mr Raab in Westminster tomorrow, with ministers given more time to draft less drastic contingency measures. He will brief Westminster on Thursday on more than 80 UK no-deal preparedness notices, aimed at helping businesses and citizens in case Britain crashes out of the EU without an agreement. Mr Raab yesterday dismissed the chance of a no-deal scenario occurring, despite a number of warnings from European politicians and diplomats, while also insisting the UK would be leaving the European Union on March 29, 2019, regardless of whether a deal is in place.

9.25am update: Ireland trapped by ‘hardline’ EU and Leo Varadkar Brexit positions, says former Europe minister The joint hardline positions on the Irish border, held by the EU and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, have encouraged the lack of a viable solution to the issue, a former Irish minister claimed. Lucinda Crieghton, who was Irish Minister for European Affairs between March 2011 and July 2013, argued that a series of Brexit redlines held by the EU, UK and DUP has caused a stalemate in the debate to find an Irish border solution. She said: “There is a lot of pessimism around because you have basically mutually exclusive hardline positions. “You obviously have the determination by the Irish government and the EU by extension, to maintain a seamless and borderless existence between Northern Ireland and the Republic. “Which of course would mean essentially the territory of Northern Ireland, if not the rest of the UK, remaining in the single market and effectively operating within the customs union. “Obviously the commitment of those who campaigned for Brexit and those who are still advocating a very clean break from the EU who will not countenance the UK as a whole staying in the single market or effectively within the customs union. “Then in the middleMinister you have the position of the DUP in Northern Ireland who will not allow the territory of Northern Ireland to be in anyway treated differently or separately to the rest of the UK.”

Vince Cable has attacked International Trade Secretary Liam Fox's claims that Britain will become an exporting "superpower". The Liberal Democrat leader argued that Brexit will create barriers to trade and that the Government have not offered business any “resource” to aid exports. He said: “I would expect the Trade Secretary to be promoting trade and in the favour of exports, that is what he does for a living. “The problem is the rhetoric and the verbiage is not backed up by anything concrete, there is no resource available to help exporters. “In addition, the whole process of Brexit, whether you are in favour or not, involves creating barriers to British exports because non-tariff barriers do not exist within the single market prism will disappear and there will be barriers in the future. “So it is a rather empty, slightly bombastic declaration. “The big picture is we are in danger of losing access to existing markets, not just the single market of the EU but a whole lot of preferential arrangements around the world. “If you are a British exporter at the moment you are faced with massive uncertainty which is hardly good for the objectives that Liam Fox wants to achieve.” 8.55am update: Liam Fox suggests 'tens of thousands' migration target could be scrapped International Trade Secretary Liam Fox has suggested the UK could scrap the current migration policy after Brexit following the Government announcing plans to give EU citizens the right to stay in the event of a no deal. Asked whether he agreed with the UK's immigration target of 100,000, he told LBC: "I think that one of the things that was clear from the referendum was that the public do not want unlimited movement into the United Kingdom. "The public can differentiate between people who come here with a job and will be contributing to the economy and those who under free movement were able to come to the United Kingdom and use our public services without ever having contributed to them. "Well that's the government target and we'll be reviewing what we do post-Brexit." The intervention from the Tory frontbencher came hours after Theresa May announced she would take the "moral high ground" during talks with Brussels and offer the three million EU citizens the right to stay in Britain even after a no deal.

8.40am update: Emergency talks in Northern Ireland as fears heighten over no-deal Business Secretary Greg Clark has held urgent talks with emergency officials in Dublin on an emergency agreement around Northern Ireland in the case of a no-deal Brexit. Downing Street wants to avoid publishing plans for a worst-case scenario that would include importing thousands of generators north of the border. The electricity industry has operated a single wholesale market across the island of Ireland since 2007 but is underpinned by EU law and without legal clarity, Northern Ireland could be left short of supplies in the event of a messy Brexit divorce. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab will brief Westminster on Thursday on more than 80 UK no-deal preparedness notices, aimed at helping businesses and citizens in case Britain crashes out of the EU without an agreement. But the energy issue will not be among those covered by Mr Raab in Westminster tomorrow, with ministers given more time to draft less drastic contingency measures. 8.30am update: October deadline for Brexit deal unikely to be met, says Barnier Michel Barnier has conceded that talks over a withdrawal deal are unlikely to be may not be completed by the European Council summit in October as previously hoped, leading to fears that Brexit will be delayed. The EU's chief negotiator and Brecit Secretary Dominic Raab are yet to fully agree on the Irish backstop, outstanding withdrawal agreement issues and a political declaration on the future relationship. Standing next to Mr Raab at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday following further talks, Mr Barnier said: "If you count backwards from that date, March 30 2019, the day on which the UK will no longer be a member of the European Union – while remaining for 21 months, if we reach an agreement, in the single market, customs union and European policies – the countdown backwards from there has to take account of the time which is necessary for ratification. “That is a given, it will take a certain amount of time to ratify the agreement – on the UK side and the European side. "That takes us for a final agreement on the withdrawal agreement and political declaration well before the end of the year – I'm not going to say October, a few days here, the beginning of November, but not much later than that."</s>While a Brexit bonus is a lie Peter Kenyon checks out progress and sees opportunity at this year’s Labour Annual Conference

This is a long shot. But some brothers and sisters in Britain’s trade unions, some affiliated like TSSA (the Transport Salaried Staff Association) and others not like the Royal College of Midwives are backing another referendum on the Tories’ Brexit deal with Brussels. Public opinion according to latest opinion polls is in favour. Chartist has been equivocal. We would prefer a General Election with the Labour Party positioned to offer the country an opportunity to vote for hope, not despair over the Tories’ bungled Brexit.

The omens are not encouraging. An early General Election seems illusory. The public, having been suckered into the Tory civil war over Europe, voted Leave (maybe shock horror encouraged unwittingly by Russian gold). Revelations that there was no contingency planning for a ‘Leave’ vote have left Leave voters desensitized to the impact of their decision – post 29 March 2019. Labour MPs representing Leave constituencies appear to have been administered the largest doses of Brexit bromide. A recent conversation with a northern Labour MP who shall remain nameless told me proudly that what his constituents needed was a Labour government and its proposed National Investment Bank. Quick as a flash, I said: “Wouldn’t it be great if the European Investment Bank could back this urgently needed source of additional capital in the UK’s neglected regions?” Lordy, lordy, his reaction was very dismissive. “That’s not possible,” he asserted, “We are leaving.” I smiled.

Mounting interest in a People’s Vote offers Labour an opportunity. This needs to be cast as a referendum on the Tory mess. Any such referendum would be contingent on Parliament deciding that would be appropriate in the event of the May government losing a ‘meaningful vote’ in the House of Commons opposing whatever deal the British government is able to secure in Brussels. At the time of writing it looks as though the Government will be defeated over this issue in the House of Commons. So Parliamentary sovereignty over Brexit may be asserted. All that remains is for the Government to conclude a Brexit deal, which looks less likely as each day passes.

The choice(s) for Labour are continue to depend on parliamentary manoeuvres led by Brexit shadow secretary Sir Keir Starmer or broaden out its attack lines by inviting the wider Labour Movement to inform future policy. That could be linked to parliamentary and extra-parliamentary action as well as providing a fresh focus in the event of an early General Election.

Recent sessions of Prime Minister’s Questions show the Labour front bench is ready to take on the Government over its conduct of the Brexit negotiations. Piling on the pressure to fix the ‘Brexit – Tory mess’ idea in the electorate’s mind would be a valuable preliminary to an Annual Conference debate in Liverpool in late September.

Corbyn’s readiness to risk appearing to deliver Brexit has created a running sore both inside the Parliamentary Labour Party and in many parts to the Party of the ground, particularly among younger members. But it appears to have kept many Leave voters on Labour’s side, so far.

Those inside the Labour Party bewailing ‘a lack of leadership’ or ‘a lack of vision’ or ‘gifting Brexit to the Tories’ ought to be asking themselves how will voters react to Labour reneging on the outcome of the EU Referendum. Similarly those inside the Party demanding Brexit ought to be asking themselves is it going to deliver better prospects for jobs and investment.

Feeding the groundswell of discontent with the Tories – and it must be the Conservative Party as a whole that is targeted – should be the leitmotif of Parliamentary Labour Party activity until a Brexit deal is delivered, whether dead or alive. Voters need reminding repeatedly – there is no Tory Brexit bonus – it was a lie. There are no alternative trade deals under the Tories – it was a lie. National sovereignty will be surrendered with a Tory Brexit, and so on.

This will not be achievable in current circumstances. Too many of Labour ‘s elected representatives in Parliament are Brexit bromide dependents. For Labour’s electoral ratings to enjoy another major uptick, Labour MPs in so-called Leave constituencies need to be working over the summer wising their voters up to the realities of the Tory mess – surrendering our right to have a say, continuing to pay into the Brussels budget, accepting European Court of Justice rulings. We should be relaunching that old rallying cry from across the pond – no taxation without representation – to justify the Remain option, when the time is right.

Constituency Labour Parties have an opportunity to table so-called contemporary resolutions to Party conference.

Chartist editor Mike Davis has tabled one for his local party:

*British households are £900 worse off following the vote to leave the EU;

*the economy is now 2% smaller than forecast before the referendum;

*a rise in racist attacks and abuse since the referendum;

*an almost 20% devaluation of the Pound in relation to the Dollar and Euro;

*a relocation of many businesses to European states;

*the threat to the peace process and Good Friday Agreement with the introduction of a hard border in Ireland;

*the HMRC estimate of a cost of over £20b to leaving the EU in addition to the £39b settlement:

This BLP/Conference further believes the Tories will either exit with no deal or manage a bad deal that will not protect jobs or workplace rights or safeguards for environmental and human rights including full citizenship rights for EU citizens in Britain.

Call on the party in parliament to reject any deal which fails to sustain these current rights and conditions.

Support the proposal to negotiate for as long as it takes to secure these terms, through a transition period for continued membership of a Customs Union and single market.

Campaign in a general election for the option of retaining membership of a reformed EU.

To work with our European partners for:

– an end to EU austerity policies with

– a European recovery programme for jobs, rights, benefits and economic security that the British

and other European peoples deserve, after ten years of austerity, worsened employment, reduced pay and welfare deprivation.

The affiliated trade unions also have rights to table such resolutions. In the face of mounting evidence of the job losses in the UK arising from Brexit uncertainties, it would seem negligent in the extreme if they did not link staying in the EU Customs Union and possibly the Single Market to Labour’s ambitious and necessary anti-austerity programme for jobs and investment. What is certain is they will not seek to embarrass Labour’s leadership. Nor should rank and file members, but that is an idle wish. As long as Labour has dropped any pretense of negotiating a ‘Better Brexit’ or delivering a Brexit bonus, an open debate at Conference can only help seal the idea in the electorate’s mind that ‘Brexit means a Tory mess’.</s>Higher charges on international credit card payments. Extra taxes on parcels from Europe. More red tape for hospitals that import blood or organs for transplant.

These are some of the potential consequences the United Kingdom will face if it crashes out of the European Union without a deal on trade, according to notices published Thursday by the UK government.

"I remain confident a good deal is within our sights, and that remains our top, and overriding, priority," said Brexit secretary Dominic Raab. "But, we must be ready to consider the alternative."

Companies have been asking for guidance from the government since Britain voted to leave the European Union in June 2016.

"Businesses have waited too long for answers to some basic questions around Brexit ... 'no deal' preparations should have happened far earlier," said Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce.

The 24 documents published by the UK government cover areas including banking, medicine, farm subsidies, organic food production, nuclear power and science research funding.

The scope of the notices show that almost every aspect of life and business in the United Kingdom would be impacted by a messy Brexit. The European Union published its own guidance on the potential consequences earlier this year.

The slow pace of Brexit negotiations has heightened fears in recent months that Britain may leave the European Union in March without a transition deal to keep it temporarily in the bloc's single market and customs union.

Without a deal, hundreds of agreements governing the way businesses operate and trade will be void. The UK government said Thursday that companies exporting goods to the European Union would face steep new tariffs.

Even if no deal is struck, the UK government said it would continue to follow European Union rules in most areas in hopes of achieving a smooth transition out of the bloc.

But analysts warn that crashing out of the European Union would have dire consequences for the United Kingdom, which would be treated by the European Union as a third country.

The British government said it would continue to accept medicines tested in the European Union without additional checks, for example. But it has no say over what would happen to medicines produced in the United Kingdom and exported to the European Union.

Raab said the UK government has 7,000 people working on Brexit, and it plans to recruit another 9,000.</s>On 29 March 2019 Britain will officially leave the European Union. It's a historic moment, no country has ever left the EU before. But some campaigners believe it's not too late to stop Brexit from happening. Are they right? And how would it work anyway? The Guardian's political correspondent Jessica Elgot explores whether Brexit is in fact inevitable
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, whose country holds the rotating European Union presidency, expresses interest in avoiding a hard Brexit.