Philip Hammond steps in to rubbish no-deal Brexit and accuses Boris Johnson of ‘driving UK off a cliff-edge’ Philip Hammond’s comments came as it emerged the Cabinet was warned that the country is not prepared for no-deal Brexit

Philip Hammond waded into the Tory leadership battle by accusing Boris Johnson of driving the country towards a Brexit “cliff edge at speed”.

Just moments after Mr Johnson kicked off his bid to become Prime Minister, the Chancellor criticised his Conservative colleague for promising to do the “impossible” and deliver Brexit by 31 October.

Mr Johnson vowed to pull the UK out of the European Union by Halloween, insisting: “Delay means defeat. Delay means Corbyn. Kick the can and we kick the bucket.”

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Not ready for no-deal

His comments came as it emerged senior government officials have warned the Cabinet that the country is not prepared for a no deal departure, adding it could lead to shortages in medical supplies.

Speaking after Mr Johnson’s campaign launch, Mr Hammond criticised the leadership contenders for “boxing themselves into a corner” by pledging to take the UK out of the EU by the end of October.

“Boris and any other candidate is perfectly entitled to say that they need to go and test this for themselves,” the Chancellor said.

“But I can advise them that the EU is not likely to be prepared to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement we have already opened with them.”

And he added: “I think it will be very difficult – in fact I think it will be impossible – to do this by October 31 and I don’t think it will be in our national interest that we drive towards this cliff-edge at speed.”

i understands Mr Hammond’s concerns are shared within the Cabinet among the likes of Amber Rudd, Damian Hinds and Greg Clark holding grave concerns about a no deal exit.

According to documents seen by the Financial Times, the Government still needs six to eight months to ensure “adequate arrangements are in place to build stockpiles of medicines” before departure.

Officials also require “at least four to five months” to prepare traders for new border checks that will come in to place under a disorderly withdrawal from the bloc.

No-deal budgeting

The leaked note, drafted for the Cabinet on May 21, insists any new Prime Minister would struggle to ensure no deal preparations would be concluded by October 31 without disruption to the supply of medicines and border controls.

It adds the Foreign Office would need two months to get in touch with the 1m UK citizens living in the EU to tell them to prepare for greater uncertainty when it comes to their future residence status.

During Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Sajid Javid clashed with the Chancellor after he demanded an additional £2bn for no deal planning.

The Home Secretary warned additional resources were needed to provide extra Border Force officials to handle the fall out of a disorderly exit.