国际英语资讯:Spotlight: UK govt asks public not to panic while ringing Brexit alarm bells_时事

国际英语资讯:Spotlight: UK govt asks public not to panic while ringing Brexit alarm bells

"But, we must be ready to consider the alternative. We have a duty, as a responsible government, to plan for every eventuality," he said.

The senior official's comments came after Liam Fox, the British trade secretary, said earlier this month that there was a "60-40" chance of the UK failing to reach an agreement with Brussels. Jeremy Hunt, the new foreign secretary, has said that Britain was heading for "no deal by accident".

Labor, the British opposition party, accused the government of going into "panic mode", as calls were made for a no deal to be ruled out amid worries that a bungled Brexit would send the pound into a nosedive, lead to long border delays and risk food and medicine shortages.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said, "No deal means we have not reached agreement on anything with the EU, so that's no deal on EU citizens, no deal on trade, no deal on security and so on."

"The idea that technical notices issued eight weeks before we are supposed to reach agreement is going to reassure anybody I think is fanciful," he said. "It actually reflects the fact that these negotiations are going badly and the government is now moving into panic mode."

Raab claimed the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK was 80 percent complete, and pledged to step up the pace of talks with Brussels.

However, there is still a big gap on major issues between the two sides during the Brexit talks, which resumed on Tuesday. EU diplomats in Brussels expect an informal deal deadline of October to be missed.