Hammond could vote against new PM to halt no deal

PHILIP HAMMOND has given a clear warning that he could vote to bring down a Boris Johnson government to stop a no-deal Brexit as a fellow Tory rebel suggested it would be “in the interest of the country”.

The Chancellor also hinted that he could back a second referendum if, as expected, he returns to the back benches next week.

In an interview with two European newspapers, Mr Hammond said that if MPS could not agree on a Brexit deal, “we may have to ask the British to give their opinion again, in one form or another”.

Mr Hammond told Le Monde and Süddeutsche Zeitung: “I will do everything in my power from my position to make sure that Parliament blocks a Brexit without agreement.”

Asked if that included voting against the Government in a confidence vote tabled by Labour, he said: “I do not exclude anything for the moment.”

Stephen Hammond, a health minister who also rebelled in the vote, refused to rule out voting no confidence in a Boris Johnson government.

He told the BBC: “I hope we never get there, but I think a lot of people were taught that you must put the interest of the country before yourself.”