'EU knows we mean business' - UK Finance Minister

British finance minister Philip Hammond has rejected calls to start spending on plans for a “no deal” Brexit as a way to put pressure on the rest of the European Union.
He also stressed the need progress in talks, which have stalled on issues like the Brexit bill and the Northern Ireland border

“Some are urging me to spend money simply to send a message to the EU that we mean business. I think the EU knows that we mean business. They know that we are planning for a no deal scenario, that we have to do that.”

Hammond also said that ministers were united behind May’s plan to seek a transition period after March 2019 while allowing for new arrangements to be put in place.

But despite this, EU governments remain unrelenting in their will to get what they want at the negotiating table.