UK's Gove says stepping up no-deal contingency planning

LONDON, Oct 21 (Reuters) - British minister Michael Gove said the European Union had not yet responded to the government's request for a Brexit delay, and that he must now step up contingency planning because of the increased possibility Britain leaves without a deal on Oct. 31.

"I must, I fear, take the appropriate steps now to prepare for the increased possibility that the legal default position will follow and we will leave on Oct. 31 without a deal," Gove told parliament on Monday. (Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and William James, Editing by Kylie MacLellan)