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Chancellor Philip Hammond steps up attempts to block a no-deal Brexit

Ben Gartside
·Reporter
Updated
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond speaks at the launch of a report, by living standards think tank the Resolution Foundation, on the impact of the higher minimum wage at the Resolution Foundation offices in London, Britain May 30, 2019. Jonathan Brady/Pool via REUTERS
Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond. Jonathan Brady/Reuters

Chancellor Phillip Hammond has stepped up attempts to prevent a no-deal Brexit, by threatening to block Prime Minister Theresa May’s legacy proposals unless she allows a free vote on an upcoming amendment which aims to block leaving the European Union without a deal.

The amendment —which has been tabled to the upcoming Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Bill—would prevent a prorogation of parliament and ensures fortnightly updates to the Commons about Brexit related issues.

May had been looking to give Education a funding boost of around £27 billion, but Hammond favoured a figure closer to £5 billion, and is likely to leverage any funding increase on a free vote to block prorogation.

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Conservative Party leadership front-runner Boris Johnson has previously refused to rule out proroguing parliament in order to ensure no deal, which Chancellor Hammond vehemently opposes.

READ MORE: Former Brexit chief on no-deal: 'Everybody should be worried'

Hammond has been rumoured to be setting up a cabal of MPs who are looking to block no deal from the backbenches, if Johnson wins the Conservative leadership election. Up to 30 MPs are involved according to reports from Sky News.

Other current Cabinet ministers look set to join the grouping when they leave government, including current Justice Secretary David Gauke and International Development Secretary Rory Stewart.

Discussing a potential no deal exit from the EU last week, Hammond said: “The Commons has been clear already that it does not support a no-deal exit. That is my position, and as a backbencher I will continue to argue against a no-deal exit.

I am quite confident that the House of Commons will find a way, and indeed should be able to find a way. Because this is a parliamentary democracy and it would be frankly rather shocking if the House of Commons...could be simply sidelined by a government that was doing something that was the exact opposite of what the House of Commons clearly wanted done.”