TV adverts to explain implications of no-deal Brexit

Television adverts explaining the implications of a no-deal Brexit are to be aired, the head of the Civil Service has revealed.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill announced the stepping up of the Government’s communication campaign as he appeared before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee.

Radio adverts to help people prepare for Brexit have been aired since January, and the Government began placing adverts in newspapers and websites a fortnight ago.

Sir Mark dismissed suggestions that the Government’s messaging is failing, saying: “Individuals and citizens and businesses are making their own judgments.

“The information is available. We’ve been putting it out on the website for several months, that’s now been complemented by some radio advertising. We have plans to bring through some television advertising as well.

“So there is a communications campaign, but of course citizens and businesses are aware of that but they also look at the front pages and the news bulletins and they make a judgment, their own judgments, about the likelihood of no deal on 29 March.

“And that will influence their judgments about the extent to which they need to make personal preparations to do so.”

Sir Mark also criticised leaks from Cabinet meetings.

He said: “Ministers are entitled to expect and indeed are required to exercise full candour in debating those issues before a decision is made and expect to be able to do so in confidence.

“And of course the area, in my view, of collective responsibility that has been under most pressure… is the breakdown in the confidentiality of those discussions in advance.

“I think that is an issue we are going to have to address as we work our way through this.”