Plans to reshape Britain's ties with Brussels may have hit the buffers after Philip Hammond insisted treaty change was not “in itself” a goal of the new Conservative-majority government.
The Foreign Secretary declared he was likely to vote for the UK to remain an EU member during an in/out referendum on Britain’s membership, promised before the end of 2017.
And Mr Hammond added that he wanted Britain to remain a “wholehearted participant” in the European project.
His comments come despite divided opinion on whether the UK would be better served by quitting the 28-member bloc.
“For the vast majority of the British people the important thing is where we end up, the outcome,” he said.
However, without treaty change, critics argue it would be virtually impossible to guarantee any meaningful reforms to Britain’s relationship with its Brussels lawmakers.
Asked about the need for reforms in Europe, Mr Hammond told the Financial Times: “It does not mean we need treaty change for the politics — the issue is how to protect the [measures] from legal challenge.” Express.
