BREXIT! BREXIT! BREXIT!

[Rum]

Do you not find it alarming that we're now in a situation where the military are making preparations for things that are supposed to be handled by our government and civil service?

No. That is called preparedness. If you really are suggesting that it amounts to preparations for a military coup you have drifted into the realms of far left fantasy.

[Scot Dutchy]

You never know. Controlling the chaos? Would not put it past the Brexiteers. They are willing to sacrifice the country for their millions. Anything is possible. The thing is to start with the worst case scenario and work back.

[Brian Peacock]

There is a whole raft of so-called civil contingency protocols, procedures and law that can be drawn on by the governement in response to events - as happens, by degrees, as the national terror alert status (officially, Threat Level) changes, for example. Among these forward-looking plans probably the most notable is the civil contingencies act 2002 brought in by the Labour government post 9/11. Among other things that legislation gives every cabinet level minister power to invoke a national state of emergency, if they are minded to do so (yes, it really is that vague). On a national scale 3500 troops is not that many, and their tasks are reported to be things like ensuring hospital generators, ambulances, fire engines and police vehicles stay topped up or delivering stock-piled medical supplies in the event of hold ups with oil and gas tanker processing or other vital imports by air and sea. The troops are certainly not going to be deployed onto the streets to police night-time curfews or save us from the rape gangs and food rioters - we're just not set up for a military (or police) state and most of 'our boys and girls' in the forces are deployed overseas anyway. Protecting vital infrastructure and government buildings is the best we can hope for I'm afraid - we're going to have to deal with the rapists and rioters ourselves guys.

Perhaps it's time to get my ornamental wakizashi edged

[PsychoSerenity]

Do you not find it alarming that we're now in a situation where the military are making preparations for things that are supposed to be handled by our government and civil service?

No. That is called preparedness. If you really are suggesting that it amounts to preparations for a military coup you have drifted into the realms of far left fantasy.

Preparedness would be if the government and civil service had made the necessary preparations over the last two years. It's one thing for the military to provide physical security and logistical support at the direct request of government, but it's an entirely different situation if the military are making the decisions about what involvement they will have. I'm not suggesting that the military would seize control at gunpoint. In normal situations the government's power can be held to account by parliament, but the government have simply dropped the reins and the military are picking them up. If we actually have a no-deal Brexit and it all gets a bit chaotic so the military have to put their plans into action, who is holding them to account? And who is making the operational decision about when the military are supposed to stand down?

[Rum]

So in fact you aren’t suggesting there might be a military coup as the alarmist language in your first post suggested.

[Brian Peacock]

I imagine the military personal in Whitehall departments are liaisons. The government will still be responsible for making the plans, signing them off, and implementing them even if the military have input. IF we're going to see troops stationed round the country (I suspect at least half will be stationed in London anyway) then they're going to need to be supplied and relieved - the military planers will be there to inform the government what's possible given the resources available and to ensure the troops have adequate supplies of food, water, and porn.

[Scot Dutchy]

I think the local scrubbers will supply the latter for a loaf of bread.

[Brian Peacock]

"Hey Johnny - I love you long time you give me cigarette yes?"

[Scot Dutchy]

Of course the immigrants will take over the prime locations.

[Brian Peacock]

The Russian oligarch and African potentates already have.


Boom-boom!

[rainbow]

Alarmism doesn’t help anyone.

Sez you.

It helps me get out of bed.

[Brian Peacock]

These are the jokes folks. Humour keeps things real. It was the same when Hitler was bombing my mum and dad - oh how they laughed....

[Scot Dutchy]

Yep! The Battle of Britain spirit; two quid a bottle.

[Rum]

Two Brexiteers walk into a library...

[PsychoSerenity]

So in fact you aren’t suggesting there might be a military coup as the alarmist language in your first post suggested.

If the government are ceding civil powers to the military, I don't know what else to call it. Hopefully, as Brian says, they are only there as liaisons, providing information about the capacity for military assistance, and not actually making plans of action themselves. But the article said they are military planners deployed to government departments and the Cabinet. This is not normal!