Chancellor Hammond brands EU negotiators ‘the enemy’

PHILIP Hammond branded the European Union the “enemy” and called on its leaders to behave like “grown-ups”. The Chancellor, who has faced a wave of criticism from some Conservatives over his gloomy approach to Brexit, dismissed “bizarre” and “absurd” accusations that he is talking down Britain’s economy.

But admitting that “passions are high” in the party, Mr Hammond insisted he was fully signed up to the plans for Britain’s exit and said the enemy is in Brussels.

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 that 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 for Britain.”

Later, Mr Hammond said he regretted his “poor choice” of words 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.”

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, risking jobs and living standards.”

Earlier, Downing Street dismissed reports of a deepening rift between the Prime Minister and the Chancellor, saying she still had full confidence in him.