Jeremy Hunt has admitted that Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal has caused damaging trade barriers with the EU.
The Chancellor, who yesterday unveiled an Autumn Statement which experts warn will inflict years of pain on millions of Brits, said it will “take time” to remove these barriers.
Meanwhile he stressed that immigration will be “very important” for the economy.
His comments came after the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) said Brexit caused a “significant adverse impact” to trade volumes and business relationships between UK and EU firms.
Asked if rejoining the single market would boost growth, the Chancellor told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I think having unfettered trade with our neighbours and countries all over the world is very beneficial to growth.
“I have great confidence that over the years ahead we will find outside the single market we are able to remove the vast majority of the trade barriers that exist between us and the EU. It will take time.”