A no-deal Brexit could end up unleashing a plague of rats as waste exports are halted and our landfills overflow.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove wrote to the European Energy and Environment subcommittee to set out planning for what would ­happen in the event of us crashing out of the bloc on March 29.

And his note confirms waste sites in the south-east of England would be allowed to overflow with waste on a “case-by-case basis”.

Best for Britain supporter Virendra Sharma said: “This shows once and for all Brexit is rubbish. We are now facing the facts that tips will fill up, rats on our streets and bins overflowing. You have to ask, was it worth it?”

There are particular worries about the south-east as it will be hit hardest if waste exports are delayed at Dover.

Mr Gove wrote: “The Environment Agency is ready to respond to ­requests from industry for additional storage of waste and will process any such requests as promptly as it can.

“In the event of a no-deal causing stockpiling, the Environment Agency is able to issue an ‘enforcement
position’ to allow waste sites to go over the permitted levels on a temporary case-by-case basis.”

The news comes after reports emerged that environment officials fear we would struggle to ­export waste as well as livestock, leading to growing mounds of rubbish and slurry.

An internal memo said: “Odours will obviously be an issue as the stockpiled waste putrefies.”

An Environment Agency spokesman said a process was in place to ensure waste could still be exported after a no-deal Brexit.

Tory Brexiteer Andrew Bridgen insisted: “This is people worrying over nothing. The day we leave the EU – even with no deal – our rules will still be the same.”

Earlier this week, Theresa May secured Parliament’s backing to re-open talks with Brussels.

The PM hopes to strike a deal that does not include the Irish border backstop – and could finally win a majority in a Commons vote. She reports back to Parliament on February 13.

Meanwhile, Mrs May today begged MPs to stop trying to force a second EU referendum, insisting there will never be a Commons majority for it.

She wrote in an article: “Put your efforts behind securing a better Brexit for all of us.”

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