Labour is also taking a combative approach towards comments made by Sir Jim Ratcliffe about Britain’s decline. Phillipson said:
“I do think you lose the moral high ground in the argument you make, Jim Ratcliffe, that is, by making these kinds of pronouncements while choosing to make decisions, that he is within his rights to make, to become a tax exile.
And of course, he was also someone, as I understand it, who was a big supporter of Brexit.
That was over a decade ago now, but we’ve seen the impact of Brexit on our economy, and that’s why this Government is committed to making sure we do have a better trading relationship with the European Union, which will be a central part of how we make sure we do see stronger growth.”
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”