Prime Minister Theresa May and her ministers will step up preparations for a “no deal” Brexit, an outcome made more likely by a deadlock in parliament over the British leader’s divorce deal with the European Union.
With just over 100 days until Britain is due to leave the EU, May is yet to win the support of a deeply divided parliament for the deal she struck last month with Brussels to maintain close ties with the bloc.
Members of the cabinet were seen entering Number 10 Downing Street in the morning to meet for the last time before the Christmas recess.
May has delayed the vote on her deal until mid-January, prompting some lawmakers to accuse her of trying to force parliament into backing it by running close to the March 29 exit day.
Britain’s economy has slowed since the 2016 referendum vote to leave the EU, and there is no guarantee that businesses and consumers will retain tariff-free access to European goods after Brexit.