No-deal Brexit could see us ABANDON all border checks on goods, say mandarins

BRITAIN’S borders could be thrown wide open if we crash out of Europe without a trade deal.

Whitehall officials are in talks to axe customs checks to keep goods moving.

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They are planning for the shock scenario amid concerns about hold-ups at ports and the ongoing Irish border issue.

Under the proposals, people would still be subject to checks at ports and airports but lorries would be waved through.

The Government wants a deal with Brussels which would make trade “as frictionless as possible”.

But a source said: “We have a duty to plan for the alternative.”

One border operator described the plans to Sky News as the “throw open the borders option”.

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Transport Secretary Chris Grayling told the BBC’s Question Time the day before there would be no hard border at Dover.

He said: “We will maintain a free-flowing border. We will not impose checks in the port.

“We don’t check lorries now, we are not going to be checking lorries in the future. I’m absolutely clear it cannot happen.”

But Labour’s Chuka Umunna said: “It is extraordinary. Ministers are simply saying they will ignore the law.”

It comes as PM Theresa May prepares for next week’s crunch summit with EU leaders to try to sign off a transition trade deal.

Downing Street is confident of an agreement on Thursday.

But one European diplomat warned: “This whole thing could end in tears. British business might get a terrible shock.”