Cabinet clash over no deal as backstop talks resume in Brussels 

Michael Gove and Philip Hammond have clashed again over no deal, it was claimed today.

With just 36 days to go the Environment Secretary is said to have accused the Chancellor of failing to properly prepare Britain for no deal.

Mr Hammond insisted today the Government had taken the necessary precautions but was still committed to leaving the EU with a deal.

Reports of the clash emerged the morning after Theresa May's latest round of talks in Brussels with EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

They discussed plans for an 'appropriate legal assurance' about the backstop to reassure MPs and in a joint statement said they were aware 'of the tight timescale'. 

Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox are due back in Brussels today for further talks while Mrs May will continue her diplomatic efforts at a summit in Egypt this weekend. 

Two sources told The Telegraph that there had been a 'heated' row between Mr Hammond and Mr Gove. 

Mr Gove is said to have raised concerns about whether there will be enough ferry capacity to transport food and medicines in the event of a no-deal Brexit.

The argument is said to have happened during a Cabinet committee discussions yesterday.  

In an interview with the Today programme this morning, the Chancellor admitted it was 'uncomfortable we are so close to the wire' but said it was the nature of political negotiations. 

He described Brexit as 'a large black cloud' hanging over the UK economy, which is distracting the Government from its domestic priorities.

In an interview with BBC One's Breakfast, the Chancellor was repeatedly asked whether he would quit the Cabinet if Theresa May went for a no-deal Brexit.

He replied: 'I will always do what I believe is in the best interests of the country.'

Asked if a no-deal Brexit would be in the UK's best interests, Mr Hammond said: 'No, definitely not. My job is to make sure that the Government gets us a solution which does not take us to that no-deal precipice.

'I have been crystal-clear on this for the last two-and-a-half years. That is what I am working for all day, every day, and, so long as I believe I am able to influence that outcome and help to get us to a good outcome here, which will protect British jobs and British prosperity, that's what I will go on doing.' 

Speaking last night in Brussels, Mrs May said: 'I've underlined the need for us to see legally binding changes to the backstop which ensure it cannot be indefinite, that's what is required if a deal is going to pass the House of Commons.

'We've agreed that work to find a solution will continue at pace, time is of the essence and it's in both our interests that when the UK leaves the EU it does so in an orderly way.

'And so we've made progress and the Secretary of State for Exiting the EU and the Attorney General will be in Brussels tomorrow for further talks.' 

A joint statement issued following the meeting said: 'The two leaders agreed that talks had been constructive and they urged their respective teams to continue to explore the options in a positive spirit.

'They will review progress again in the coming days, seized of the tight timescale and the historic significance of setting the EU and the UK on a path to a deep and unique future partnership.'

The statement said discussions had looked at 'which guarantees could be given with regard to the backstop that underline once again its temporary nature and give the appropriate legal assurance to both sides'. 

Talks also covered 'the role alternative arrangements could play in replacing the backstop in future'.

The statement added: 'Both reconfirmed their commitment to avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland and to respect the integrity of the EU's internal market and of the United Kingdom.'

The PM and Mr Juncker agreed to talk again before the end of the month.

After the meeting, Mrs May said: 'I have underlined the need for us to see legally binding changes to the backstop that ensure that it cannot be indefinite.