Brexit news latest: Philip Hammond demands Boris Johnson apologises over 'Operation Yellowhammer' dossier leak allegations

Former Chancellor Philip Hammond has called for Boris Johnson to apologise following claims that ministers from Theresa May’s government leaked the “Operation Yellowhammer” papers.

Mr Hammond, a staunch Europhile, today continued his Brexit rebellion against the Prime Minister with a strongly-worded letter demanding an apology for the “misleading briefing from No.10”.

He said it was now apparent the “Yellowhammer” document was dated August 2019, and so could not have been leaked by a minister from Mrs May's administration as had been suggested by Downing Street.

The document warned of “meltdowns” at ports in the event of a no-deal Brexit, as well as food and medicine shortages. Mr Hammond himself denied being the source of the leak this week.

In a letter to Mr Johnson on Sunday, Mr Hammond wrote: "The clear implication was that a minister in the last government has retained, and then leaked, a copy of this document. The media has speculated accordingly on the source of this document.

“I am writing on behalf of all former ministers in the last administration to ask you to withdraw these allegations which question our integrity, acknowledge that no former minister could have leaked this document, and apologise for the misleading briefing from No.10.”

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