Hammond mocks ‘no detail’ Johnson
an eight-point lead in favourability ratings against Mr Corbyn, with 54 per cent preferring her as Prime Minister to 46 per cent for the Labour leader, Mr Johnson would find himself in a dead heat. Insiders say much of that lost support is in Scotland.
The former foreign secretary has come under sustained attack in Birmingham over his disloyalty, including from former allies in the Brexit campaign such as David Davis. Ruth Davidson also called for “a period of silence”.
Mr Johnson used a Sunday Times interview to describe Mrs May’s Brexit policy as “deranged” and “preposterous”. In remarks that have fuelled speculation about his leadership ambitions, he contrasted his position on Brexit with that of Mrs May, who backed Remain, saying: “Unlike the Prime Minister, I fought for this.”
Chancellor Philip Hammond launched a scathing attack yesterday, saying he does not expect the former foreign secretary to become Prime Minister.
Mr Hammond said “I don’t expect it to happen” and suggested Mr Johnson could not do “grown-up politics”.
He went on to attack the flamboyant Brexiteer for having “no grasp of detail” on complex subjects like Brexit, suggesting his greatest achievement to date had been introducing the “Boris Bike” cycle scheme while London mayor.
In his speech to conference yesterday, Mr Hammond predicted a “deal dividend” that could fund tax cuts and public service spending once a
Brexit deal was reached. Mr Hammond’s forecast came as he called on Conservatives to stand “four square” behind the Prime Minister as she enters the final weeks of negotiations ahead of a hoped-for deal next month.
He also threatened internet giants like Google and Amazon with a new digital services tax to make sure they pay their fair share of the cost of public services.
“When the Prime Minister gets a deal agreed, there will be a boost to our economic growth,” Mr Hammond said.
“A ‘deal dividend’, which we will share in line with our balanced approach between keeping taxes low, supporting public services, reducing the deficit, and investing in Britain’s future.”
Mr Hammond said the Treasury was keeping sufficient “fiscal firepower” to hand to deal with any economic fallout from a nodeal Brexit.
But he urged Tories to unite to help Mrs May get a deal, saying: “Over the next few weeks we must stand together four square behind the PM.”