No-deal Brexit could see hike in electricity prices

Britons could also be barred from entertainment accounts in EU

Electricity prices could rise if there is a no-deal Brexit, according to UK Government papers.

Twenty-nine technical papers were released by Whitehall departments yesterday in the final tranche of guidance on preparations for a no-deal Brexit. A total of 104 such papers have now been released.

The Single Electricity Market on the island of Ireland may cease to operate, one of the documents said, hitting consumers on both sides.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the Single Electricity Market was the product of bilateral cooperation between London and Dublin and he hoped this would continue.

Even if it did not, he said the UK would be prepared.

Mr Raab said: “We have got interconnectors and the regulatory measures that the government can take to make sure that Northern Ireland maintains the energy supply it needs.”

The new guidance covers areas ranging from the regulation of pesticides, trading in electricity, rail transport and consumer rights.

One paper warned Britons could be barred from accessing their accounts for Netflix, Spotify and other online entertainment while travelling to EU states. Another said the UK export trade in rough diamonds could be totally halted by a no-deal Brexit.

Michael Russell, the Scottish Government’s Constitutional Relations Secretary, said: “Potentially higher electricity prices, difficulties recruiting front line staff for the NHS and other key sectors and damaging disruption to exports will affect everyone in Scotland, but will hit our rural and coastal communities the hardest.”

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “The government’s no-deal planning won’t reassure anyone. Ministers have barely scratched the surface of what would need to be done in the event of the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal.”

The Department for International Trade said it is seeking to forge new bilateral deals with the 70 countries covered by EU trade agreements which will be “identical or substantially the same” as the arrangements which Britain is giving up.

However, it warned companies that even if such deals can be reached, there may be “practical changes” to the way trade takes place.

And it confirmed that if these are not in place in time for a no-deal Brexit, exports and imports to these countries will become subject to tariffs under World Trade Organisation rules.

Picture: PA. Higher electricity prices could be on the cards if a Brexit deal is not reached, say new papers.