Shortages of food, medicine, and fuel could strike the UK if the country takes a hard tumble out of the European Union on 31 October with no deals in place to smooth the transition.

That's the gist of a UK government report entitled "Operation Yellowhammer" that was leaked out to The Sunday Times newspaper.  The Yellowhammer is a small bird facing extinction.  The BBC reported it was leaked to the press by a former government minister hoping to influence negotiations with the EU.

The report details a nightmare scenario in which pretty much no one is ready for the Brexit, when the UK goes crashing out of it in a few weeks.

"On Day 1 of No Deal, 50 percent - 85 percent of HGVs (Heavy Goods Vehicles, or trucks) travelling via the short straits may not be ready for French customs," according to the report.  "The worst disruption to the short Channel crossings might last 3 months before flow rates rise to about 50 percent - 70 percent."

Medicine imports "could be as low as 40 percent on Day 1 of No Deal...with significant disruption lasting up to six months."

The British peoples' diets will suffer:  "Certain types of fresh food supply will decrease.  Critical elements of the food supply chain (such as ingredients, chemicals and packaging) may be in short supply."

Officials fear "job losses are likely to result in protests and direct action with road blockades" and price increases "are likely to lead to the growth of the illegitimate economy."

The British government played down the significance of its own report, with Cabinet member Michael Gove tweeting that it was a "worst case scenario" and "significant steps have been taken in the last 3 weeks to accelerate Brexit planning".