LONDON, July 13 (Reuters) - Foreign minister Philip Hammond,the leading candidate to be Britain's next finance minister,said on Tuesday he would fight for British financial services toretain access to the European Union's single market after thevote to leave the trading bloc.
Hammond, speaking at a British Bankers' Association event inLondon, said financial services was probably the industry mostdirectly affected by the political upheaval, according to twopeople who attended the meeting.
"Access to the single market is crucially important to yourindustry," Hammond said, according to the two attendees.
They cited Hammond as saying that there was a risk thebanking industry could move to another European city, but itwould be difficult.
Theresa May will take over from David Cameron as Britishprime minister on Wednesday. After the political shock caused byBritain's vote to leave the EU, she is expected to immediatelystart putting together a new cabinet.
Hammond is the person most likely to replace George Osborneas finance minister at 2/7, according to bookmaker Ladbrokes,followed by Chris Grayling at 4/1 and Sajid Javid at 6/1. (Reporting By Andrew MacAskill; Editing by Toby Chopra)