The leader of Brent Council accused the Government of playing “roulette” with people’s futures after leaked papers suggested it is preparing for a no-deal Brexit.

Cllr Muhammed Butt reiterated his belief that leaving the European Union on October 31 without a deal would be hugely damaging.

His comments come after a dossier outlining ‘Operation Yellowhammer’ was published in The Sunday Times, noting what could happen if Britain crashes out of the EU.

The papers suggested that there could be a three-month “meltdown” at the country’s ports, a hard Irish border and food and medicine shortages due to “aftershocks”.

Cllr Butt said: “These reports make it clear that the politicians in Downing Street are playing roulette with the economy and the prosperity of Brent.

“Those that voted to leave were promised sun-lit uplands; they did not vote to be poorer.

“Crashing out without a deal will hit the working-people of Brent hardest; as the pound flat-lines and inflation spirals.”

He added that the council remains concerned about plans to end freedom of movement which, he said, goes against the borough’s multicultural make-up.

“In Brent, we are a proudly global and open-minded borough with over 70,000 EU nationals,” he said.

“I’m sure they share my alarm at the rhetoric of the Home Secretary who, under a no deal, wishes to play politics with people’s lives, by ending freedom of movement into the UK from October 31.”

Ministers have tried to downplay the Yellowhammer leak, suggesting that it was put out to undermine the Government’s Brexit efforts.

Michael Gove, who is in charge of no deal preparations, tweeted: “We don’t normally comment on leaks – but a few facts – Yellowhammer is a worst-case scenario – very significant steps have been taken in the last three weeks to accelerate Brexit planning.”