The leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, has said that a no-deal Brexit "will destroy our agricultural sector. It will mean food shortages, it will bring chaos to our ports and transport networks."

He was speaking in the House of Commons as the combined opposition parties attempt to prevent prime minister Boris Johnson from taking the UK out the European Union without a deal on 31 October.

While Irish farmers on both sides of the border are acutely aware of the dangers of a no-deal Brexit, the negative implications for farmers across England, Scotland and Wales are being highlighted as the 31 October deadline approaches.

The House of Commons in Westminster was attempting on Tuesday night to take control of the business agenda so that a motion can be debated on Wednesday to block a no-deal crash-out on Halloween.

Boris Johnson has made the vote a confidence issue and has said he will have any Conservative party MPs lose the party whip and deselected in the event that they support the opposition motion.

Earlier in the day, the prime minister formally lost his slender majority in parliament, even taking the DUP's support into account, when a Conservative MP crossed the floor of the house and sat with the Liberal Democrat group of MPs.

Food shortages

Various leaked reports on the impact of Brexit have also made reference to the risk of some food shortages and even medical supplies though pro-Brexit MPs dismiss such claims as part of a "project fear" agenda.

Michael Gove, the current minister with responsibility for delivering Brexit, has acknowledged that a no-deal Brexit would cause what he described as bumps in the road.

Election possibility

If parliament decides to debate a motion on Wednesday to exclude a no-deal Brexit, the Johnson has said he will seek an early general election.

However, with the fixed-term parliament act, an election cannot be called without a two-thirds majority in parliament. This means he needs the support of the Labour party and, while opposition parties are usually enthusiastic about an election, it is by no means certain on this occasion that the prime minister would get his wish.