Hammond on tour to kickstart Brexit talks

Philip Hammond is embarking on a Brexit charm offensive across Europe, as he appeals to national leaders to make a breakthrough in negotiations. Concerns are growing that the Brexit talks are stalling, with one government source accusing France of deliberately taking a “hard line” in an effort to upset the discussions in an attempt to take business from the City. Other Cabinet ministers will make speeches on Brexit over the next fortnight.

PHILIP HAMMOND will today begin a Brexit charm offensive across Europe amid concerns that France is deliberately stalling negotiations in a bid to take business from the City of London.

The Chancellor appears to have been sidelined from a series of major interventions on Brexit by Cabinet ministers scheduled over the next fortnight.

Theresa May, Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox will all give keynote speeches on the “road to Brexit”, but the Chancellor will instead today visit Norway and Sweden, before heading to the Netherlands tomorrow, Spain on Thursday, and Portugal on Friday as he appeals directly to European leaders in a bid to make a breakthrough in the negotiations.

Mr Davis, the Brexit Secretary, will next week begin a fortnight of visits to allies in southern and northern Europe.

The diplomatic blitz comes amid mounting concerns that Brexit negotiations are stalling, with one Government source accusing France of deliberately taking a “hard line”.

The source said: “We want member states to have more of a say: it’s to their benefit that the trading relationship with the EU exists. The people in the Commission have more of a religious view of Europe. The preservation of the project is the most important thing [for them], even if it damages the European Union. France is the most negative of the member states, they are taking a very hard line. They see it as an opportunity to take business from us, but it’s not going to work.”

Britain hopes to capitalise on EU divisions to isolate France and kick-start the second phase of Brexit talks, which will define the nature of the transition period and future relations.

Mr Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, will give a speech tomorrow that will attempt to unite Leavers and Remainers behind Brexit. The speech, entitled “The Road to Brexit: A United Kingdom”, will attempt to restore “hope and optimism.” Conor Burns, Mr Johnson’s parliamentary aide, told BBC Radio 4’s Westminster Hour: “If pessimism were a disease, Boris Johnson would be immune. I think he wants us now to leave the labels of ‘Remain’ and ‘Leave’ behind, and unite in the opportunities that Brexit presents for Britain.”

Meanwhile, Australia has said it could do “substantially” more trade with the UK if the countries strike a bilateral agreement following Brexit. Alexander Downer, Australia’s High Commissioner, said that reducing and removing tariffs had a “substantial and very positive” impact.