London - British Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid is
expected to announce a 16.6-billion-pound (19.6-billion-dollar)
no-deal Brexit fund on Saturday to counteract losses in EU funding.
In an interview with The Daily Mail late Friday, he said the money
was for businesses, universities and charities over the next few
years that might be affected by a loss in European Union funding.
He promised 4.3 billion pounds for those institutions for the coming
year in case Britain leaves the EU without a deal on October 31.
He did not give additional details to the Daily Mail.
In the interview, he also said that a no-deal Brexit on October 31
would not be as bad as never leaving the bloc, adding that a failure
to leave the EU would "tear the fabric of our society."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wants to leave the EU on October 31 with
or without a deal. Though the prime minister is legally required to
submit a request to extend Brexit on October 19 should no deal be
ratified by then, it is unclear what Johnson will do.