Philip Hammond says Brexit deal will deliver economic boost in plea for Tories to back Chequers
2 min read
Philip Hammond has forecast that a Brexit deal with the EU will deliver a boost to the British economy as he called on warring Tories to back the Prime Minister.
The Chancellor said a "deal dividend" was within the country's grasp, but only if Theresa May's internal critics drop their opposition to her Chequers blueprint.
In his keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Birmingham, Mr Hammond also further stoked his feud with Boris Johnson with a series of thinly-veiled digs at his former Cabinet colleague.
Tory Brexiteers are stepping up their opposition to Mrs May's strategy, which is centred around maintaining close economic ties with the EU after Brexit, by claiming it does not deliver on the result of the EU referendum.
But Mr Hammond said he shared the Prime Minister's "determination to get the Chequers Plan agreed" and insisted it was the only way to avoid a hard Irish border while protecting jobs.
With the negtiations reaching their crunch point later this month, the Chancellor told the Tory faithful they must "stand together four-square behind the PM to get the best possible outcome for Britain".
He added: "I’m going to stick my neck out here today and make a prediction to you that when the Prime Minister gets a deal agreed there will be a boost to our economic growth - 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."
BORIS JOHNSON
The run-up to Mr Hammond's speech was dominated by a Daily Mail interview in which he mocked Boris Johnson's approach to Brexit and dismissed hich chances of becoming Prime Minister.
He stepped up his attacks with a number of apparent swipes at the former Foreign Secretary during his speech, saying that the Government's policies must be "based on realism, not populism, delivery, not rhetoric".
In a clear reference to reports Mr Johnson said "f*** business" in response to companies' concerns about Brexit, Mr Hammond said: "Just in case anyone, anywhere, was in any doubt at all, let me say it, loud and clear - the Conservative Party is, and always will be, the party of business."
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