Mr Brigden has long been an opponent to the European Union. Never holding a frontbencher position under either David Cameron, Theresa May or Boris Johnson he is a supporter of Leave Means Leave. Host Emma Barnett had asked: “Do you want the likes of Philip Hammond in your party?”
Mr Brigden explained to Mr Barnett: “I want people like Philip Hammond to appreciate that Boris Johnson had a clear mandate to get us out of the European Union, he got 66 percent of the votes of our membership in the leadership ballot only a few weeks ago, not only my members in North West Leicestershire, but Philip Hammond’s members in Runnymede and Weybridge.”
Mr Bridgen went on to remind his Tory colleagues they may face pressure from party members.
He explained: “I think they’re going to come under considerable pressure from the membership before we come back in September, the alternative to Boris Johnson and delivering Brexit is a coalition of Marxists, nationalists and Liberal Democrats, whose declared policy is they want a second referendum and Jo Swinson’s already said if it was leave again, she still wouldn’t accept it, that’s a coalition of chaos.”
‘Coalition of chaos’ was a term first coined by Mrs May who said the alternative to a Tory government was a coalition lead by Jeremy Corbyn in the lead up to the 2017 election.
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Both Tory and Labour manifestos called for the results of the 2016 referendum to be honoured, though Mr Corbyn’s Labour called for controlling immigration not be one of the main priorities but did call for an end of freedom of movement.
The two parties gained a combined to get 82.4 percent of the vote with a combined total of around 27 million votes.
There have been suggestions of a government of national unity to be formed as should Mr Johnson lose a vote of no confidence, an alternative government as well as the current one would have 14 days to win a vote of confidence to gain or hold on to power without a general election.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has dismissed the suggestions while Ms Swinson has also ruled out a potential pact with the main opposition party.
Mr Hammond supported remain in the referendum but told the 2016 party conference: “No ifs, no buts, no second referendums. We are leaving the European Union.
“But it is equally clear to me that the British people did not vote on June 23 to become poorer, or less secure.”
Mr Hammond was the only MP to hold the Chancellorship during Mrs May’s tenure but resigned as he refused to support Mr Johnson’s willingness for no deal if necessary.
The successor to George Osborne, Mr Hammond was also Transport Secretary, Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary under Mr Cameron.
