In this photo provided by the UK Parliament, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (center) delivers a speech in the House of Commons in London, Dec 17, 2018. (JESSICA TAYLOR / UK PARLIAMENT VIA AP)
LONDON — Britain will begin to put into place plans for an exit from the European Union without any deal in place, with the public and businesses told to prepare now for the eventuality, Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesman said on Tuesday.
A meeting of May's senior ministerial team agreed that the time had come to ramp up plans for a no-deal Brexit, the spokesman said, although he added that leaving the bloc in March next year with an agreement remained the most likely scenario.
Businesses will be provided with a 100-plus page online pack to help them prepare
"Cabinet agreed that, with just over three months until our exit from the European Union, we have now reached the point where we need to ramp up these preparations. This means we will now set in motion the remaining elements of our no-deal plans," he said.
Britain's departure from the bloc is just over 100 days away and it remains unclear whether the country will leave with a deal or crash out without one — an outcome that risks plunging the economy into recession.
Businesses will be provided with a 100-plus page online pack to help them prepare. E-mails to 80,000 of those most likely to be affected will be sent over the next few days.
READ MORE: EU agrees to Brexit transition, UK renews Irish border vow
Some manufacturers have begun stockpiling parts and goods in anticipation of post-Brexit hiccups to trade. But many businesses — especially smaller firms — have done little to mitigate the economic shock of leaving without a deal.
Protestors are reflected in a puddle as they wave European flags to demonstrate against Brexit in front of the Parliament in London, Dec 3, 2018. (FRANK AUGSTEIN / AP)
And big firms and business organizations have warned that uncertainty is already sapping investment and causing needless expense.
The British Chambers of Commerce said Tuesday that economic growth and business investment in 2019 were likely to be lower than previously forecast because of the continuing uncertainty.
The British government and the EU sealed a divorce deal last month, but May postponed a parliamentary vote on it last week when it became clear legislators would overwhelmingly reject it.
She tried to win changes from the EU to sweeten the deal for reluctant lawmakers, but was rebuffed by the bloc at a summit in Brussels last week. May's authority has also been shaken after a no-confidence vote from her own party that saw more than a third of Conservative lawmakers vote against her.
ALSO READ: May says postponed Brexit vote to be held week of Jan 14
May insisted Monday she could win "clarification" from the EU to reassure skeptical lawmakers before Parliament votes on the deal during the week of Jan 14.
Big firms and business organizations have warned that uncertainty is already sapping investment and causing needless expense
Opposition legislators — and many members of May's Conservative Party — remain opposed to the deal. But with Parliament divided on the way forward, the Brexit process is at an impasse.
Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, on Monday submitted a motion of no-confidence in the prime minister, accusing May of deliberately wasting time by delaying the vote, forcing Parliament to choose between her deal and no deal.
The government said it would not grant Parliament time to debate the motion, calling it a "stunt." Other opposition parties accused Corbyn of making a futile gesture, and called on him to push instead for a vote of no-confidence in the government — which would have to be put to debate and a vote under parliamentary rules.
Labour lawmaker John Healey said the party would call a full motion of no-confidence "when it's clear to the country the government has failed decisively."
He said it was "a question of when, not if" the government would be challenged.
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