Brexiteers accuse Philip Hammond of ‘appeasing’ Brussels after saying Britain would still abide by EU rules after a transition deal

BREXITEERS have accused Philip Hammond of trying to “appease” Brussels after saying a transition deal would mean Britain abiding by EU rules after leaving.

He said “technically” the UK wouldn’t be in the single market or customs union but the interim deal would “replicate the status quo”.

But prominent Tory Eurosceptics reacted with fury at the Chancellor who is on a trade mission to China.

Former Brexit minister David Jones said: “Once again, the Chancellor appears only too ready to do Brussels’ bidding.

“It points a dagger at the heart of Brexit and at the will of the British people expressed in the referendum.

“It’s quite clear the Chancellor has had no prior discussion with his Cabinet colleagues before showing his readiness to appease Brussels.”

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith accused the Chancellor of “undermining” Theresa May’s negotiating position.

Meanwhile, Tory backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg said the EU’s position would reduce the UK to the status of a “colony”.

The EU guidelines state Britain would have to observe all EU rules including freedom of movement and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice during the transition.

The Brexit Cabinet sub-committee will meet on Monday followed by a full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
David Jones added it would be an opportunity for fellow Brexiteers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove to “rein in the Chancellor and get him to abandon his bid to derail Brexit once and for all”.