47 Facts About Philip Hammond

Philip Hammond, Baron Hammond of Runnymede was born on 4 December 1955 and is a British politician and life peer who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 2016 to 2019, Foreign Secretary from 2014 to 2016, and Defence Secretary from 2011 to 2014.

Philip Hammond served in the Shadow Cabinets of Michael Howard and David Cameron as Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions from 2005 to 2007 and Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 2005 and from 2007 to 2010.

In July 2016, after Theresa May succeeded Cameron as Prime Minister, Philip Hammond was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Philip Hammond did not stand for re-election in the 2019 election.

Philip Hammond was born in Epping, Essex, the son of a civil engineer.

Philip Hammond was educated at Shenfield School in Brentwood, Essex, where he was a classmate of Richard Madeley.

Philip Hammond then read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at University College, Oxford, where he was an Open Scholar, and graduated with a first-class honours degree.

Philip Hammond joined the medical equipment manufacturers Speywood Laboratories Ltd in 1977, becoming a director of Speywood Medical Limited in 1981.

Philip Hammond left in 1983 and, from 1984, served as a director in Castlemead Ltd.

Philip Hammond had many business interests including house building and property, manufacturing, healthcare, and oil and gas.

Philip Hammond worked as a consultant to the Government of Malawi from 1995 until his election to Parliament.

Philip Hammond was the Chairman of the Lewisham East Conservative Association for seven years from 1989, and was a political assistant to Colin Moynihan, then MP for Lewisham East and Minister of Sport.

Philip Hammond was elected to the House of Commons at the 1997 general election for the newly created Surrey seat of Runnymede and Weybridge.

Philip Hammond won the seat with a majority of 9,875 and remained its MP until 2019.

Philip Hammond made his maiden speech on 17 June 1997.

Philip Hammond was moved to become a spokesman for Trade and Industry by Iain Duncan Smith in 2001, and later transferred to Shadow Minister for Local Government and Regions in 2002.

Philip Hammond was moved back to the role of Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury in David Cameron's reshuffle following Gordon Brown's accession to the premiership.

Philip Hammond was appointed Secretary of State for Transport following the formation of the coalition government on 12 May 2010, a position he held until 14 October 2011.

Philip Hammond became Secretary of State for Defence on 14 October 2011 when Liam Fox resigned.

In February 2012, Philip Hammond said that the Falkland Islands did not face a "current credible military threat" from Argentina.

Philip Hammond added that Britain had "no desire or intention to increase the heat" surrounding their sovereignty.

Philip Hammond said one in four posts from the ranks of commodore, brigadier, air commodore and above would go.

Philip Hammond solved the problem by deploying 5,000 members of the armed forces making good the shortfall.

On 15 July 2014, Philip Hammond was appointed Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.

Philip Hammond said that he would vote in a putative referendum for a British exit from the European Union unless there were changes in the relationship, but following David Cameron's renegotiation, he supported the Remain campaign.

Philip Hammond was present in Vienna as the UK representative for the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action disclosure ceremony.

Philip Hammond presented the deal in Commons the next day, and was in Jerusalem for a joint press conference with Benjamin Netanyahu, which was described as "tense".

Philip Hammond described the United Nations findings regarding the detention of Julian Assange in the Ecuadorian embassy in London on 6 February 2016 as "ridiculous".

Philip Hammond was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by new Prime Minister Theresa May on 13 July 2016.

Philip Hammond called for caution during a Cabinet committee meeting, which discussed a proposed post-Brexit visa regime that would require all European Union workers to prove they have secured a skilled job before being allowed into Britain, which led to accusations that he was trying to "undermine Brexit".

In January 2017, Philip Hammond stated that the UK would leave the Single Market as it was not politically possible to continue to comply with all the EU's rules regarding freedom of movement in the wake of the Brexit vote, saying that they would look to pursue a "comprehensive free trade agreement" instead.

In October 2017, Philip Hammond referred to the European Union's Brexit negotiators as "the enemy".

In November 2017, Philip Hammond said in an interview on The Andrew Marr Show, whilst talking about possible unemployment that comes with driver-less vehicles, AI and robots, that the development of personal computers meant that there was no longer any need for shorthand typists.

In July 2019, with the expectation that Boris Johnson would become Prime Minister, Philip Hammond asserted that he would work to avoid an immediate exit from the EU.

Philip Hammond stated that should he be part of the Johnson Cabinet he would be required to support a no-deal Brexit, something he "could never sign up to".

On 3 September 2019, Philip Hammond led 20 other rebel Conservative MPs to vote against the Conservative government of Boris Johnson.

Philip Hammond did not contest the 2019 general election, as he would be a "direct challenge" to the Conservative party.

Philip Hammond had a business career in small and medium-sized companies in manufacturing, consultancy, property and construction, and oil and gas, both in the UK and abroad.

On 13 July 2020, according to documents from the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which oversees business appointments for former ministers, Philip Hammond would be taking up a paid, part-time role as an advisor to Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance.

Philip Hammond was created Baron Philip Hammond of Runnymede, of Runnymede in the County of Surrey, by Letters Patent dated 30 September 2020.

Philip Hammond holds a stake in the company worth $15 million.

In May 2012, Philip Hammond said that banks were not solely responsible for the 2008 financial crisis as "they had to lend to someone".

Philip Hammond said that people who took out loans were "consenting adults", who in some cases were now seeking to blame others for their actions.

In May 2012, Philip Hammond said same-sex marriage is "too controversial".

In May 2013, Philip Hammond abstained as one of four Cabinet Ministers not to vote in favour of same-sex marriage.

Philip Hammond was openly critical of the then Prime Minister David Cameron's approach to the Marriage Act 2013 and said in November 2013 that he was "shocked" by the speed with which it was pushed through and that it was "damaging" to the Conservative Party.

Philip Hammond wants all earners, not only the wealthiest to pay higher taxes to finance improved public services, he feels borrowing will not work.