Brexit news latest: Ex-minister warns no-deal could lead to London Tory MPs losing their seats

Many Tory MPs in London could lose their seats if there is a no-deal Brexit, a former minister warned today.

Stephen Hammond also urged the Government to focus more on seeking a new Brexit agreement than on “turbo-charging” no-deal preparations.

The Wimbledon MP told the Standard: “No deal is not designed to appeal to many voters in London and would not be a winning strategy for London Conservatives. The London Euro elections showed how hard it would be to hold onto many of our seats if we have no deal.” The Tory vote slumped to 7.9 per cent in London in May’s EU elections.

Of the 21 London seats held by Tories, experts say those which could be under threat if a “no-deal” General Election is held include Zac Goldsmith in Richmond Park (with a majority of 45), Environment Secretary Theresa Villiers in Chipping Barnet (353), Matthew Offord in Hendon (1,072), Justine Greening in Putney (1,554), and Mike Freer in Finchley and Golders Green (1,657).

In Harrow East, Tory MP Bob Blackman would be defending a majority of just 1,757. Iain Duncan Smith’s majority in Chingford and Woodford Green is down to 2,438. Mark Field could struggle to hold onto Cities of London and Westminster (3,148). Mr Hammond in Wimbledon (5,622), and even Boris Johnson in Uxbridge and South Ruislip (5,034), are being targeted by Labour.

London School of Economics’ Professor Tony Travers said: “The Conservatives now face a fascinating choice. If they are going to win a General Election by pushing a no-deal Brexit to win seats in Leave areas in the Midlands and the North, they are going to have to be willing to sacrifice many MPs in London and other parts of the South.”

Mr Hammond, who lost his job as health minister in last week’s reshuffle, believes the Department of Health will be able to ensure a continuing supply of drugs and medical devices if there is no deal. “But I would like to see more effort put into negotiating a deal which protects our citizens’ livelihoods and jobs rather than turbo-charging no deal,” he said. “Shouting about no deal risks increasing economic uncertainty and a falling pound.”

With Chancellor Sajid Javid ready to open the spending taps for no-deal preparations, Mr Hammond said: “The Government has got to be clear that this is not reckless spending. It should be proportionate and focused on what is necessary, rather than a wider messaging campaign to support no deal. After all, it’s still the strategy of the Government to secure a deal.”

He added that the no-deal plans were not preparing the UK for the opportunities of Brexit but rather aimed at “mitigating the worst impact of no deal”. “It’s clear Parliament does not believe a no deal would be an acceptable outcome, and there are parliamentary means to ensure that can’t happen,” he said.