BREXIT and the pandemic have left Fife Council short of everything from timber, bricks and plastics to food, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and microchips – and the disruption is "likely to get worse".

Delays at ports getting worse after surge in demand for shipping as economy recovers and firms seek to build stockpiles.

'The government walking away from this EU deal just smacks of ideological dogma'

European scrutiny committee warns that UK approach risks access to vaccine

Government now wants close links with early warning system despite Brexit, source says.

Everyone is fishing in the same pond. Stocks built up in readiness for Brexit are having to be replenished. If another pandemic strikes, we’ll hardly be in the best position to get through it.

Nobody ever said that a no-deal Brexit would badly affect our ability to deal with the global outbreak of a viral illness. Well, apart from the British Medical Association in 2018. And the Faculty of Public Health, in 2016 before the referendum was held.

Brussels says UK was briefed on bulk-buying plan and given ‘ample opportunity’ to join.

Senior Foreign Office official tells MPs that ministers refused scheme because UK had left EU.

More than three quarters of the public think the UK should participate in EU schemes to secure vital protective equipment, as it emerged ministers passed on three opportunities to take part.

Britain did not take part in €1.5bn order for kit to protect against Covid-19 despite shortages in NHS.