Philip Hammond tells Boris Johnson to stop ‘throwing tantrums’ over Brexit deal and refuses to back early election
PHILIP Hammond has told Boris Johnson to “stop throwing tantrums” over his Brexit deal.
The former Chancellor said the government should “stop making threats” and get on with the “grown up business” of letting MPs scrutinise the withdrawal agreement.
GROW UP
Mr Hammond told Sophy Ridge on Sky News: “This is not the time to be holding a general election – it’s a time for cool heads and grown up government.
“These deadlines of October 31st are meaningless, the key thing now is to get the deal properly scrutinised in Parliament and that doesn’t mean delaying by months.
“That means giving Parliament a few days, couple weeks , amend it if necessary, and then we can make progress.
“The government should stop making threats, stop throwing tantrums and get on with the grown up business of doing its business.
“Just because it can’t get exactly what it wants doesn’t mean it should stop working.”
The government should stop making threats, stop throwing tantrums and get on with the grown up business of doing its business.
Philip Hammond
MPs finally backed Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal last week — then wrecked it within minutes by rejecting his three-day timetable to push it through Parliament.
He immediately announced he will put the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on hold and on Thursday announced plans for a December 12 election.
About five EU countries are ready to force Britain to the brink of a no-deal by threatening to block an extension to Thursday’s Brexit deadline.
France is waiting to see if Labour and the Commons agree to a general election – or ratify his deal – before sanctioning a three-month delay.
‘I’M NOT GOING TO CHANGE’
Remainer Mr Hammond was among the 21 Tory rebels sacked by the PM last month for defying the comments in the Commons over blocking a potential no deal Brexit.
Mr Johnson has suggested there could be a way back into the fold for some of the rebels.
But Mr Hammond said he was not “holding his breath” for his chances and said he intended to stand as an independent in the next election.
Boris is expected to lose the Commons vote on Monday when he seeks the two-thirds majority needed to force a general election.
Mr Hammond refused to back the vote and said MPs have to “solve the Brexit problem first”.
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Mr Hammond told Ridge: “I’m not going to change what I say and what I believe and I think about what is important for Britain’s future in any kind of attempt to sort of sneak back in and curry favour with the Conservative leadership.
“I hope that the party leadership would recognise in due course that abandoning the concept of a broad church conservative party that embraces people of a wide range of views – would be electorally damaging.
“But I’m not holding my breath.”
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