Hammond’s warning

Efforts to tie PM Theresa May to a specific form of Brexit are undermining Britain’s chances of negotiating a successful withdrawal from the European Union, Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned.

His comments are likely to be seen as a lightlyveiled reproach to International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, who has made a public push for a “hard Brexit” solution which would see the UK leave the European single market and customs union.

He told the House of Commons Treasury Committee it was “no secret” there were differences within the Cabinet about the best way to proceed.