This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/philip-hammond-transition-period-brexit-a7470481.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Philip Hammond signals backing for 'transition period' to ease UK's Brexit pain Philip Hammond challenges Cabinet colleagues to delay completing Brexit because of 'risks to financial stability'
(about 1 hour later)
Chancellor Philip Hammond has given a strong indication that he supports a transitional arrangement for the UK's departure from the EU, to allow a "longer period" to adjust. Chancellor Philip Hammond has publicly challenged Cabinet colleagues to delay completing Brexit, warning of the “risks to financial stability”.
Challenging Tories who want a fast and hard Brexit, he said the view among "thoughtful politicians" is that an extended period to decide and phase in changes would make separating Britain from the EU a smoother, less risky process. Mr Hammond called for a “smoother transition” to withdrawal – saying “thoughtful politicians” are now swinging behind an interim trade deal to cushion the harsh impact.
His words at the Treasury Select Committee, going further to shed light on the Government's thinking than any minister so far, also move beyond what Prime Minister Theresa May has said. The comments go much further than Theresa May’s public statements, after her spokesman denied she was exploring a transitional deal.
As things stand the UK will have a two-year period after triggering Article 50 in March to conclude talks and reach a deal on Britain's future relations with the EU, meaning Brexit will take place in the spring of 2019. The reference to “thoughtful politicians” was seen as a coded attack on supporters of a ‘hard Brexit’ – in particular Trade Secretary Liam Fox – who are itching to make a clean break, in 2019.
But many politicians suggest reaching a comprehensive deal in that time may not be possible, and have mooted the idea of a longer period after initial talks finish to complete long-term arrangements. Giving evidence to MPs, the Chancellor also laid bare the huge bureaucratic costs of leaving the EU’s customs union, which Labour opposes.
Mr Hammond said: "There is an emerging view among business, among regulators and among thoughtful politicians as well as, I think, quite a universal view among civil servants on both sides of the English Channel, that having a longer period to manage the adjustment between where we are now, as full members of the European Union, and where we get to in the future, as a result of the negotiations that we will be conducting, would be generally helpful.” He warned of a five-fold increase in customs inspections if goods had to be checked in the same way as imports from non-EU countries.
He also said that the UK and other EU states should aim to agree that a transitional deal will be adopted soon after Article 50 is triggered. That would require “quite significant physical infrastructure”, with many more staff, better training and new IT systems.
So far, Ms May has only indicated that she wants to avoid a "cliff edge" of sudden changes to regulation for businesses. Mr Hammond told the Treasury select committee: "It could certainly add hundreds of millions of pounds to the operation of the customs service”.
More to follow.... Meanwhile, transitional payments to retain access to the single market could cost around £4bn a year, it has been suggested in Brussels – half Britain’s current contribution.
Such outcomes would be embarrassing for Leave supporters, who have insisted Brexit will save billions which can be diverted to the NHS and other priorities.
The appearance confirmed Mr Hammond’s role as the leading Cabinet big-hitter urging caution on the big decisions on the single market and the customs union.
He said there was “an emerging view among businesses, among regulators and among thoughtful politicians” that a transitional deal would be needed.
It would “run less risks of disruption including, crucially, risks to financial stability which must be a fairly real concern”.
Mr Hammond denied the Government was pushing for such a deal because it would require “a genuine meeting of minds on both sides of this negotiation”.
But he added: “The further we go into this discussion, the more likely it is that we will mutually conclude that we need a longer period to deliver.”
Asked if he personally favoured such a transition, Mr Hammond eventually replied yes – suggesting it would need to last several years.
Later, he backed an interim deal even if Britain signed it not knowing the “end state”, with the final post-Brexit trade arrangements still up for grabs.
That puts him at odds with David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, who is known to fear that Whitehall will allow withdrawal to drag on and on, if no permanent eventual deal is agreed at the outset.
Mr Hammond’s intervention was welcomed by senior Labour MP Stephen Kinnock, who said the alternative was sending the economy “over a cliff edge”.
He said: “Not signing a transitional arrangement would mean punishing tariffs which would hit British businesses and raise prices in the shops.”
But Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat leader, said: “These mixed messages are a sign of the confusion and division at the heart of this Conservative Brexit government.
“The Prime Minister must take back control of her own Cabinet and make it clear whether Hammond was speaking on behalf of the government or not.”
Mr Hammond also said cross-departmental studies are being carried out on the “impacts of different tariff scenarios on different sectors”.
If Britain leaves the EU without a transitional deal, it is expected to fall back on World Trade Organisation (WTO) tariffs, which vary for different goods.