Mrs May needs the suppor of Arlene Foster and her party for her Brexit deal to get through (Image: GETTY)
Philip Hammond said the twice-rejected plan did not “yet” have the support of the DUP or enough Eurosceptics in Mrs May’s party, describing it as “a work in progress”. Mr Hammond refused to rule out a cash settlement for Northern Ireland if the DUP, which has 10 MPs in the Commons, threw its weight behind Mrs May’s deal, amid claims the government is trying to buy the support of the ultra-conservative party. Speaking on BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show, he said even if the backing was secured, it would still be “physically impossible” for the UK to exit the EU on the March 29 deadline.
He said: “If the prime minister’s deal is able to muster a majority this week and get through, then we will need a short extension.
“But if we are unable to do that - if we are unable to bring a majority together to support what in my view is a very good deal for Britain - then we will have to look at a longer extension and we are in uncharted territory.”
He added: “We will only bring the deal back if we are confident that enough of our colleagues and the DUP are prepared to support it so we can get it through Parliament.
“We are not just going to keep presenting it if we haven’t moved the dial."
The chancellor
