May Backs Down on Parliament Vote Over Her Brexit Terms

[Denzil_DC]

2. Cabinet tensions grow as ministers back Hammond's warning over hard Brexit

Several cabinet members have aligned themselves with Philip Hammond in cautioning against the risks of a “hard Brexit”, with sources suggesting these allies include the business secretary, Greg Clark, and the work and pensions secretary, Damian Green.

The chancellor has been accused by ministers who supported Brexit before the referendum of attempting to undermine the process, in particular by urging a delay on migration curbs amid fears of the impact if Britain loosens its economic ties with the EU too dramatically.

But Whitehall sources have confirmed that Hammond is not a “lone voice” inside government, with several other cabinet figures who supported the remain campaign calling on the prime minister to keep open the possibility of close economic ties with the EU.

Clark and Green, who are both on May’s Brexit committee, are said to have been making their case behind closed doors. Other senior colleagues, including the education secretary, Justine Greening, are also thought to be supportive of Hammond’s stance, which is focused on maintaining as much access as possible to the single market as the UK quits the EU.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/17/philip-hammond-not-lone-voice-caution-on-brexit

Related, from earlier in the day:

No 10 plays down cabinet differences over Brexit

Theresa May is keen to hear the “differing views” of ministers in the run-up to Brexit negotiations, her spokeswoman has said following cabinet media briefings against the chancellor, Philip Hammond, by pro-leave cabinet colleagues.

In a sign of apparent cabinet tensions over the balance between limiting immigration and keeping open access to the EU, unnamed cabinet sources told two newspapers about anger towards Hammond over his concerns about plans to swiftly restrict immigration from the EU.

But the prime minister’s official spokeswoman told reporters: “The prime minister has full confidence in the chancellor and the work that he is doing.”

Oh dear (my bold).

One unnamed cabinet source described Hammond as “overly influenced by his Treasury officials who think it is a catastrophe that Britain voted to leave the EU”, the Telegraph reported.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/oct/17/philip-hammonds-brexit-worries-point-to-cabinet-tensions

Bloody Bremoaners get everywhere.