GAFFE-PRONE HAMMOND: EU IS ENEMY
...Er no it isn’t!
PHILIP Hammond was last night forced to apologise for branding the European Union “the enemy”.
The Chancellor made his bizarre outburst as Brexit talks hit deadlock.
Speaking in Washington, Mr Hammond had insisted he was backing Prime Minister Theresa May’s strategy. He said: “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.”
But the Chancellor was later forced into a humiliating climbdown.
He tweeted: “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.”
Mrs May insisted she has “full confidence” in Mr Hammond as she dismissed claims they “can’t bear” to be in the same room.
A No 10 spokeswoman said: “They have a very good working relationship.”
Mr Hammond has refused to put aside billions of pounds in case no Brexit deal is reached.
Nigel Lawson, a former Conservative chancellor, has branded his behaviour “very close to sabotage”.
He said: “There is nothing more important than preparing for what has always been the most likely outcome.”