Theresa May’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy slams Philip Hammond for having no ‘desire’ to improve the lives of struggling Brits
THERESA May’s former chief of staff has accused Philip Hammond of having no “desire or imagination” to improve the lives of struggling Brits.
Nick Timothy launched an extraordinary hatchet job on the Chancellor’s policies and character, accusing him of having no wider vision for the economy 18 months into the job.
In an article in The Sun today, he also lifts the lid on a series of bitter Cabinet feuds Mr Hammond fought — including with the PM and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid.
Sun columnist Mr Timothy’s bombshell comes eight days before Mr Hammond delivers his crucial Budget.
Accusing him of blocking key reforms such as workers’ rights and investment in housing, he writes: “Instead of being bold in seeking solutions, Philip Hammond’s instinct will always be to maintain existing policy, regardless of its quality.
“He lacks a burning desire to change people’s lives for the better, and imagination to see possibilities beyond how the world works today.”
The devastating attack line draws immediate comparison to Mrs May’s vow on Downing Street’s steps when she first became PM to fighting the “burning injustices” in society.
Tense deliberations are still ongoing between No10 and No11 on how to solve Britain’s chronic housing crisis.
Mr Timothy’s powerful intervention will be seen as a bid to push Mr Hammond into being bolder, as he adds: “I hope next week he proves me wrong”.
The PM’s former closest aide in No10 – until he resigned after June’s general election disaster – also claimed the Chancellor “got it all wrong” in his first Budget in March this year.
Mr Timothy also confirms publicly for the first time that Mrs May tried to stop Mr Hammond from raising National Insurance Contributions for self-employed workers – a move immediately dubbed the “White Van Man Tax”.
The Chancellor was forced into an embarrassing U-turn on the hated plan within a week.
Mr Timothy writes: “Theresa May warned him repeatedly that he was making a mistake, but the Chancellor insisted on going ahead.
“The inevitable occurred: Conservative MPs rebelled and he dropped the policy and the tax receipts that came with it.”
The columnist also lifts the lid on an ongoing spat the Chancellor is currently having with the Communities Secretary on housing, naming Mr Javid as one of his critics.
Mr Timothy adds: “He is against any kind of worker representation in corporate decision-making.
“He will not support significant protections for people working in the precarious “gig economy”, and he lacks the ambition to create a comprehensive national retraining programme as technology eliminates many existing jobs.”
Mr Hammond instead sees his most important role as to keep a lid on public spending – a task traditionally carried out by the Chancellor’s deputy, the Treasury’s Chief Secretary Liz Truss.
Mr Timothy writes: “Hammond likes to think of himself as ‘Fiscal Phil’, the guy who balances the country’s books.
“But the public finances are only one part of the Chancellor’s job. Do we have a Chancellor of the Exchequer, or two Chief Secretaries?”
Treasury allies of Mr Hammond refuted Mr Timothy’s criticisms.
A source close to the Chancellor said: “This article completely misunderstands Philip.
"He is deeply dedicated in his job to improve the British economy and help Britain’s workers.
“He and the PM have been working on that together closely, and will present their plans to that nation next week.”
