Chancellor Philip Hammond angers Theresa May with his idea to delay Brexit to fully prepare for No Deal
PHILIP Hammond has angered Theresa May by suggesting Britain may have to delay Brexit to fully prepare for no deal.
The Chancellor told the Cabinet that we may need to remain an EU member beyond March 29 next year under the emergency scenario so the Government has time to pass a morass of new laws.
His idea was immediately slapped down by the PM, who told him that it was not going to happen.
The revelation is made by James Forsyth in his column in The Sun today.
The clash came during a marathon three and a half hour Cabinet meeting on Thursday to review the government’s emergency plans for a no-deal Brexit.
If endgame talks do fail, an intensive programme of new laws would have to be rushed through Parliament to create an immediate new legal framework.
At the moment, the EU regulates a series of major sectors, from chemicals to medicines and farming, and that would continue during the 21 month transition period.
Treasury figures confirmed the Chancellor had suggested a Brexit delay may be necessary in the extreme scenario.
But a source close to Mr Hammond said: “Philip was only talking about an administrative pause of a few weeks”.
Allies also argued that the Treasury supremo only made his point after Commons Leader and prominent Brexiteer Andrea Leadsom told of her own fears that there may not be enough parliamentary time.
Number 10 is adamant that there is “zero chance” of Brexit postponed beyond March 29, 2019.
Mr Hammond was slapped down a second time in Cabinet last week.
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On an earlier meeting of the PM’s senior ministers on Tuesday, the Chancellor was reprimanded by the Chief Whip for saying there will be “‘squealing about Universal Credit.
Julian Smith picked him up on his language in front of the other members to tell him it didn’t help.
There is rising concern among Tory MPs on how many are struggling to get by as the new catch-all benefit is rolled out.
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