Show Europe we’re preparing – or pay price

SO far it has been accepted that Chancellor Phillip Hammond has been a safe pair of hands.

But this week he destroyed this reputation by remarks about “the enemy” when referring to the Euro negotiators. He compounded this clanger by indicating he does not intend to spend money on planning for a “no deal” Brexit.

In the real world of business negotiation, the other side has to understand that you mean what you say and are not bluffing.

So after Mrs May’s Florence speech it certainly did not help for Michel Barnier to learn that we were not fully preparing Britain’s fallback position.

It is inevitable the other 27 nations will back Mr Barnier to the hilt, for he has wrung concession after concession from the British government with nothing in return.

So it is essential our government indicates that ‘no deal’ is being anticipated and we are taking the steps to safeguard our trade, allocating hard cash on designing the necessary systems that will be in operation from March 28, 2019.

Only then will Brussels understand Britain really means business.

Few of the remaining 27 members of the EU have really taken on board the fact that the UK is actually going and that they will have to make up the shortfall of the British contribution.

If this sum is then added to the cost to Euroland of having to trade with Britain with WTO rules in place, perhaps they will collectively revise Barnier’s instructions with a view to negotiating, not dictating, as so clearly indicated by the remarks made by Jean-Claude Juncker that “Britain must pay”.

It is therefore essential the British government makes it clear that due to Europe’s attitude, the possibility of no deal being done grows by the day with, for Europe as well as the United Kingdom, the inevitable consequences.

Phillip Hammond needs clear instructions to start work immediately on creating the framework for trading to WTO rules. Only then will Brussels get the message, and hopefully change tack. Russell Luckock is chairman of Birmingham pressings firm

AE Harris