Britain allocates another 2 bln pounds for Brexit planning

LONDON, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid on Wednesday pledged a further 2 billion pounds (2.43 billion U.S. dollars) for Brexit planning next year as Brexit process embraces a crucial week in the UK.

Javid made the announcement when outlining the government's spending plans for the next year. The new money will come on top of the 2.1 billion pounds announced in July, making the committed fund reach 8.3 billion pounds to prepare for Brexit.

Javid said the uncertainty around Brexit is challenging and that the best Brexit outcome is to leave with a deal. However, he was confident that Britain and the EU will get a new free trade deal even in case of no-deal Brexit.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to take Britain out of the EU on Oct. 31 with or without a deal.

Johnson has won consent of Queen Elizabeth to suspend, or prorogue, the British Parliament for nearly five weeks in September and October.

Critics say it is a move by the prime minister to reduce the chances of MPs in the House of Commons from blocking a no-deal Brexit.

The House of Commons will sit only for a few days after it returned Tuesday from its summer recess. Parliament will then resume with a State Opening by the British monarch on Oct. 14, just over two weeks before Britain's planned departure from the EU.

Johnson on Tuesday lost a key Brexit vote in the House of Commons as anti-no deal MPs take control of the parliamentary business, which gives MPs the chance to introduce a law postponing Brexit until the end of January next year.