Philip Hammond has sent a warning to Britain’s European partners that Britain will “fight back” and not “slink off like a wounded animal” if it does not get the Brexit deal it wants. The use of such language flies in the face of calls from Sir John Major to tone down anti-EU rhetoric before negotiations begin. The chancellor made some conciliatory comments, and indicated the UK would pay any Brexit bills it owed to the EU. We always have done, we always will do, and everybody can be confident about that,” he said. A report in the Sunday Times claimed the budget would be used to build up £60bn in case of turbulence as the UK withdraws from the EU.

Source: The Guardian March 05, 2017 11:06 UTC