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Hammond hints that EU vote could be delayed

PHILIP HAMMOND warned yesterday that the renegotiation of Britain’s EU membership terms could be put on hold beyond next month’s Brussels summit to allow more pressing concerns to be addressed.

The Foreign Secretary said it would be “inappropriate and unwise” for Britain to insist on sealing a deal at the European Council summit on February 18-19, which will be held amid the continuing migration crisis.

Speaking to the House of Lords EU committee, Mr Hammond confirmed that the government wanted the renegotiation settled “well before” French and German elections in 2017.

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