The Cabinet has agreed a dramatic escalation of no deal Brexit preparations as the clock ticks down towards leaving the EU in 101 days’ time.

Downing Street announced that ministers were “ramping up” planning and that businesses and citizens should immediately prepare for leaving without a deal.

But Number 10 played down suggestions that the Government might have to bring in legislation to enact a state of emergency after March 29th.

It means that after Christmas the public will start to receive alarming warnings about food and medicine stock-piling, travel arrangements and security in the event of crashing out of the EU.

Businesses will be advised to kick off their own worst case scenario planning which in some cases involves moving operations and jobs out of the UK.

HMRC is this week sending 80,000 emails to businesses and traders who will be particularly affected by leaving without a deal, on customs, excise and regulatory changes.

However, No 10 said that Theresa May was still focusing on pressing ahead with her beleaguered Brexit deal.

“They agreed that delivering the deal remains the Government’s top priority and best mitigation against no deal,” the PM’s spokesman said.

“This is sensible Government making sure the public are prepared for all scenarios.”

The spokesman denied that the announcement was intended to focus the minds of MPs on the doomsday scenarios that could unfold if the UK leaves without a deal, or to put pressure on the EU.

He insisted that full implementation of no deal preparations was about “good, sensible planning” and that “other considerations don’t come into it”.

The Prime Minister pressed the button on the 106 technical advice notices which will kick off the full range of preparations for leaving with no deal.

Government documents warn No Deal could prompt shortages of fuel, food, medicine and water.

And the technical notices state it could ground flights, bring in extra airport checks and slap a nine-month export wait on farmers.

Travellers could be forced to renew their passports if they are less than six months from expiry, and pet owners would have to apply months in advance to go on holiday.

Theresa May agreed a 585-page deal with Brussels to avoid all this – but MPs are refusing to back it because it could extend EU customs rules over the UK indefinitely.

No 10 insisted there would be an “orderly roll-out” of information through a series of channels. Civil servants will be working through Christmas to deliver the plans.

The Treasury will release another £2bn for no deal planning, allocated to individual departments, bringing the total funding to £4bn.

Emergency legislation including bills on trade, immigration and fisheries will have to be rushed through the Commons in just a few weeks in the event of no deal.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay confirmed the "tempo" of guidance from Government to businesses and households on how to prepare for a no-deal exit from the EU would increase.

"We need to get over to business that this is something they have to prepare for", he said.

Mr Barclay said planning for a no-deal Brexit needs to be "much more of a priority for businesses up and down the country".

"The Government’s priority remains to secure a deal, but we need to recognise with 14 weeks to go, that a responsible government is preparing for the eventuality that we leave without a deal," he said.

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