The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Chancellor’s regret over EU ‘enemy’ remark
Philip Hammond takes to Twitter to step back from comments
Philip Hammond has said he regrets his “poor choice” of words after branding the European Union the “enemy”.
The Chancellor, who has faced a wave of criticism from some Conservatives over his gloomy approach to Brexit, admitted that “passions are high” in the party but insisted he was fully signed up to the plans for Britain’s exit and turned his fire on Brussels.
Around 30 minutes later, however, Mr Hammond rowed back from the comments and talked instead of Britain’s “friends and partners” in the EU.
He tweeted: “In an interview today I was making the point that we are united at home. I regret I used a poor choice of words.
“We will work with our friends and partners in the EU on a mutually beneficial Brexit deal #noenemieshere.”
Mr Hammond made the controversial comments during a visit to Washington, where he is attending the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund.
He told Sky News: “I understand that passions are high, I understand that people have very strong views about this but we are all going to the same place.
“We all have the same agenda, we all signed up to the Prime Minister’s Lancaster House speech, we’re all signed up to the Article 50 letter, we’re all behind the speech she made in Florence.
“The enemy, the opponents, are out there on the other side of the table.
“Those are the people that we have to negotiate with to get the very best deal.”
Labour said the remarks were “foolish” and accused the Chancellor of “acting like Basil Fawlty on holiday”.
Peter Dowd, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “These are foolish remarks by Philip Hammond, and reveal that he is clearly feeling the pressure from Tory MPs calling for him to be sacked. The tone of this rhetoric will obviously not unblock negotiations or help protect our economic interests.
“The chancellor should be putting the country before the infighting in his own party when he is representing us overseas, and refrain from acting like Basil Fawlty on holiday. It is vital that these negotiations do not lead to a situation where Britain crashes out of the EU without a deal...”
Mr Hammond has come under fire from pro-Brexit Tories furious at what they see as his reluctance to prepare for the prospect Britain could leave the EU without a deal if talks collapse.