Dominic Raab Sparks Row With John Lewis After Warning Struggling Uk Businesses Should Not Take \'easy\' Option Of Blaming Brexit telegraph.co.uk

Dominic Raab has ignited a row with John Lewis after he said businesses that “aren’t doing so well” should not take the “easy” option of blaming Brexit.

The John Lewis Partnership’s profits were all but wiped out in the first half of its financial year, plunging 99 per cent, with the retailer blaming “uncertainty… in part due to ongoing Brexit negotiations”.

But Mr Raab said struggling businesses should “take responsibility for their own situation” instead of making the “mistake” of blaming Brexit and politicians.

His comments came after he said Britain will not pay its Brexit \"divorce\" bill in the event of a no-deal departure in a move likely to inflame tensions as negotiations with Brussels