U.K.'s Hammond Was Frozen Out of Key Decisions
- New book claims Theresa May’s aides didn’t trust chancellor
- May sensed that her election gamble would backfire, book says
Philip Hammond
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U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s closest advisers froze out Chancellor Philip Hammond as they drew up their plans for June’s election, according to a new book revealing the rift that developed between the two most senior teams in the British government.
May herself raised her eyebrows at the mention of Hammond’s name in meetings, while his relations with her chief of staff Nick Timothy were said to have been toxic, according to the book. Hammond was denied access to the manifesto and repeatedly protested to May’s team that he didn’t get to see the whole document until too late.