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No-deal Brexit could endanger our toilet paper and people are being very British about it

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It might be difficult to get toilet paper to the UK if there are long-term border delays due to a no-deal Brexit, a manufacturer has suggested.

Essity, which manufactures Velvet and Cushelle toilet paper brands in the UK, said it was developing “robust contingency plans” across the supply chain in case of a no-deal, warning that the stocks were “not unlimited.”

The company said it had built stocks of raw materials and spare parts in the event of delays. Comments follow Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards who questions ministers in Parliament on how long toilet paper stocks will last in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

Edwards said in his written question: "To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how long supplies of toilet paper will last in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal?"

In response Cabinet Office minister Simon Hart said the UK government is working to ensure the “best possible preparation” to support the flow of goods.

An Essity spokesperson said: "As far as possible, Essity is developing robust contingency plans across the whole of our supply chain to mitigate any short-term risks following a 'no deal' or 'hard' exit of the EU.

However, stocks are not unlimited, and some will not withstand long-term border delays outlined by the Government or in the event of consumer panic buying.

This latest news into the possibility of a no-deal Brexit has elicited a very British response.

Hart told Edwards: "The Government would prefer to leave the EU on October 31 with a deal. If this is not possible, we will have to leave with no deal.

In the event of no deal, the Government will prioritise the flow of goods at the border while continuing to take a risk-based approach to controls and checks on goods to minimise additional friction.

He added: We will continue to work to make sure we have the best possible preparation to support the flow of goods.

Edwards called the focus on toilet paper “farcical.”

This is the farcical level we have descended to - the British Government can no longer even guarantee we have the necessary supplies of toilet paper in a crash-out Brexit.

It's already said it's willing to flush the economy down the toilet, but now we won't have the paper to clean up after.

As much as this revelation lends itself to toilet humour, it shows the serious damage a no-deal Brexit would do, even to our most basic of supplies.

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