London -MENA
U.K. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned of the "economic damage" the U.K. might face if it leaves the European Union.
Speaking to ITV News, Hammond also denied the Cabinet was split over the issue of whether to stay in or leave the EU.
"I am optimistic that we will be able to get the kind of significant change that the mainstream of British public opinion wants," Hammond said.
"We won't satisfy everybody," he said. "There are people out there who simply want to leave, no matter what and they don't really care about the economic damage that that might cause but I think mainstream British public opinion wants to see us enjoying the benefits of the single market if we can, but not prepared to pay any price for those economic benefits."
Asked if the Cabinet was split over whether to stay in the EU or not, he said: "I don't think so, no. Of course there are a range of balances of opinion within the Cabinet but everybody in the Cabinet is clear that we need first of all to focus our attention on re-negotiating, getting the very best possible package."