Philip Hammond's Brexit scepticism is alive and well

In the run-up to the referendum, Philip Hammond was one of those warning of the dire consequences of a vote to leave the EU. He predicted that Brexit would have a ‘chilling effect’ on the UK economy and said there would be uncertainty for years to come. Since being made Chancellor, Hammond has softened his language about the doom and gloom of Brexit. But only just. This morning, he’s been touring the studios and airwaves ahead of his keynote speech at the Tory party conference in Birmingham. His headline announcement? Ditching the policy put in place by George Osborne to wipe out the deficit by 2020. But while the Chancellor has partly torn up his predecessor’s plan, he’s also borrowing a thing or two from Osborne in suggesting – despite many of the signs since the vote – that Brexit might not be all good news, saying our economy is facing a ‘rollercoaster ride’ ahead.