Philip Hammond

Philip Hammond, Baron Hammond of Runnymede PC MP (born 4 December 1955) 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. A member of the Conservative Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Runnymede and Weybridge from 1997 to 2019. He retired from Parliament in the 2019 general election, after the Conservative Party withdrew the whip from him for voting against Prime Minister Boris Johnson' s government on a bill extending the Brexit withdrawal date.

Guardian interview (2009)
Philip Hammond: if the Tories win I will be tough but fair, theguardian.com (July 2009)


 * I hope history will judge us to have tackled the problem effectively and delivered a sustainable future for Britain's public services.


 * We have to demonstrate to the public that our commitment is protecting public services in the face of a spending contraction which is inevitable.


 * Nobody is suggesting that the NHS doesn't have to reform, nobody is suggesting that it doesn't have to become more efficient, that productivity growth doesn't have to become positive … The only difference is that in health, because of the demographic pressure, the savings will all – and more – have to be reinvested in delivering more healthcare.

2013

 * If the choice is between a European Union written exactly as it is today and not being a part of that then I have to say that I'm on the side of the argument that Michael Gove has put forward [to leave the EU].
 * Michael Gove and Philip Hammond would vote for Britain to leave the EU, BBC News (12 May 2013).


 * I believe that we have to negotiate a better solution that works better for Britain if we are going to stay in and play a part in the European Union in the future, but let me be absolutely clear: I think it is defeatist to sort of say we want to leave the European Union. We should say no, this is a club that we are members of, and before we talk about leaving it, first of all we're going to try and change the rules and change the way it works and change the objectives that it has in order to make it something that works for Britain.
 * Michael Gove and Philip Hammond would vote for Britain to leave the EU, BBC News (12 May 2013).

Conservative Home interview (2013)
Interview by Andrew Gimson: Philip Hammond declares war on lunch, and on regimental campaigners, conservativehome.com interview (8 November 2013)


 * We have to be a forward-looking nation not a backward-looking nation, and I have to run the defence budget to deliver defence effect in the future, not to preserve regiments or shipyards just because they’ve been there for a long time in the past. And we move on. As a nation we move on.


 * I think my position on the same-sex marriage thing probably sums up the kind of conservative that I am. I’m a small c conservative as well as a big C Conservative, and that means that I prefer my change to be evolutionary rather than revolutionary, and you know I got myself quite comfortable with the institution of civil partnership, but I was then quite shocked by the urge to move on so quickly to the next stage, but I dare say in time I will become quite comfortable with the institution of same-sex marriage, and I suspect I speak for a large number of Conservatives when I say it isn’t so much the substance of the change as the process and things being evolutionary and gradually taking root rather than through tumultuous change which is disturbing to the settled instinct.

Telegraph article (2014)
Hammond condemns 'intolerable suffering' in Gaza, telegraph.co.uk news (August 2, 2014)


 * The British public has a strong sense that the situation of the civilian population in Gaza is intolerable and must be addressed — and we agree with them.


 * But what has struck me most looking at my own constituency in-box as well as the thousands of emails that I’m receiving from the general public here is that it isn’t just the Muslim community that’s reacting to this. It’s a broad swathe of British public opinion that feels deeply disturbed by what it is seeing on its television screens coming out of Gaza.


 * We understand that Israel has concerns, we understand that Hamas has concerns. We are not saying we’re not interested in those.

2015

 * So long as the European Union's laws are the way they are, many of them will only have to set foot in Europe to be pretty confident that they will never be returned to their country of origin. Now, that is not a sustainable situation because Europe can't protect itself and preserve its standard of living and social infrastructure, if it has to absorb millions of migrants from Africa.
 * Migrants 'threaten EU standards' says Philip Hammond, BBC News, 9 August 2015


 * As my mother told me sticks and stones may break my bones but words don’t hurt me.
 * "Britain recognizes Iran as a great power", Trend News agency (23 August 2015)

2016

 * Partly that is because they are simply tired of years of fighting each other and partly it is the galvanising effect of Daesh (IS).
 * Philip Hammond in Tripoli to support new Libyan government, BBC News, 18 April 2016


 * It is clear we enter our negotiations to leave the EU from a position of economic strength
 * UK economic growth sped up ahead of Brexit vote BBC News (27 July 2016)

2017

 * I am confident we can do a Brexit deal which puts jobs and prosperity first, that reassures employers that they will still be able to access the talent they need, that keeps our market for goods, services and capital open, achieves early agreement on transitional arrangements so trade can carry on flowing smoothly. The collective sigh of relief would be audible. The benefit to our economy would be huge.
 * Philip Hammond on Brexit: Prioritise jobs and living standards, BBC News, 20 June 2017


 * If you want my opinion, some of the noise is generated by people who are not happy with the agenda that I have, over the last few weeks, tried to advance, of ensuring that we achieve a Brexit which is focused on protecting our economy, protecting our jobs and making sure that we can have continued rising living standards in the future.
 * Chancellor Philip Hammond hits back over public pay leaks, BBC News, 16 July 2017


 * [T]here are no unemployed people
 * Chancellor Philip Hammond's 'no unemployed' remark attacked, BBC News, 19 November 2017


 * I remember 20 years ago we were worrying about what was going to happen to the million shorthand typists in Britain as the personal computer took over. Well, nobody has a shorthand typist these days, but where are all these unemployed people? There are no unemployed people because we have created 3.5m new jobs since 2010.
 * Chancellor Philip Hammond's 'no unemployed' remark attacked, BBC News, 19 November 2017

2018

 * A trade deal will only happen if it is fair and balances the interests of both sides. Given the shape of the British economy, and our trade balance with the EU27, it is hard to see how any deal that did not include services could look like a fair and balanced settlement.
 * Brexit: Don't put bankers first in talks, says Labour BBC News (8 March 2018)


 * There is light at the end of the tunnel... but we are still in the tunnel at the moment.
 * We're not out of austerity tunnel yet - Chancellor Philip Hammond, BBC News, 11 March 2018


 * the first sustained fall in debt for 17 years, a turning point in the nation's recovery from the financial crisis of a decade ago
 * Spring Statement: Philip Hammond hails better debt and growth forecasts, BBC News, 13 March 2018


 * Once we get a good deal from the European Union and the smooth exit from the EU we will be able to show the British people that the fruits of their hard work are now at last in sight,
 * Philip Hammond: No-deal Brexit would require new Budget, BBC News, 28 October 2018


 * [The] era of austerity is finally coming to an end
 * Budget 2018: Austerity finally coming to an end, says Hammond, BBC News, 29 October 2018


 * I take the judgement that when there is a deal on the table that has very, very modest costs to the economy, which will allow us to move on as a nation both economically and politically, I judge that even narrowly, economically that will be in the best interests of the country
 * Brexit: Legal advice warns of Irish border 'stalemate' BBC News (5 December 2018)

2019

 * In the 2016 referendum, a promise was made to the majority who voted for Brexit - that they were voting for a more prosperous future. Not leaving would be seen as a betrayal of that referendum decision. But leaving without a deal would undermine our future prosperity, and would equally represent a betrayal of the promises that were made.
 * Brexit: Amber Rudd says she is committed to avoiding no deal BBC News (24 January 2019)


 * We are determined to get a deal. We recognise that a no-deal Brexit would be a very bad outcome for the UK and we are doing everything we can to avoid that,
 * Brexit: No deal threat focusing minds, says Hammond, BBC News, 21 February 2019


 * Tomorrow [Thursday], we will have the opportunity to start to map out a way forward towards building a consensus across this House for a deal we can collectively support to exit the EU in an orderly way, to a future relationship that will allow Britain to flourish, protecting jobs and businesses.
 * Brexit: Chancellor Philip Hammond calls for cross-party compromise, BBC News, 13 March 2019


 * Parliament will not allow a no-deal exit
 * Brexit: Boris Johnson says he is 'not aiming for no deal' BBC News (12 June 2019)


 * [The Treasury has] built up fiscal headroom to protect against the cost of a no-deal Brexit
 * Hammond says Tory leadership candidates must 'be honest' over spending plans BBC News (1 July 2019)


 * I do agree with him, it would be wrong for a British government to pursue no deal as a policy and I believe it will be for the House of Commons, of which I will continue proudly to be a member, to ensure that doesn't happen.
 * Brexit: Hammond vows to oppose '£90bn no-deal hit' BBC News (2 July 2019)


 * I have no doubt whatsoever that in a no deal exit we will need all of that money, and more, to respond to the immediate impacts of the disruption of a no deal exit,
 * Brexit: Hammond vows to oppose '£90bn no-deal hit' BBC News (2 July 2019)


 * But let me go further - the government's analysis suggests that in a disruptive no-deal exit there will be a hit to the Exchequer of about £90bn. That will also have to be factored in to future spending and tax decisions.
 * Brexit: Hammond vows to oppose '£90bn no-deal hit' BBC News (2 July 2019)


 * The Commons has been clear already that it does not support a no-deal exit. That is my position, and as a backbencher I will continue to argue against a no-deal exit.
 * Philip Hammond: MPs will and should stop no-deal Brexit BBC News (5 July 2019)


 * No deal means we will have to spend the money, but not in a discretionary way
 * Philip Hammond: MPs will and should stop no-deal Brexit BBC News (5 July 2019)


 * We can make sure that goods flow inwards through the port of Dover without any friction but we can't control the outward flow into the port of Calais
 * Brexit: Philip Hammond warns UK will lose control in no-deal scenario BBC News (14 July 2019)


 * There should be a new and sincere attempt to reach a consensus. If we do not find a solution with the members, we may have to ask the British to give their opinion again, in one form or another.
 * Philip Hammond will 'not exclude' backing no confidence vote to stop no-deal Brexit BBC News (19 July 2019)


 * If the next government is sincere in its desire to reach an agreement with Europe, it must try to get more time. If it does not, the British parliament will insist on getting a new postponement. I will remain a member of the House of Commons. I will do everything in my power from my position to make sure that parliament blocks a Brexit without agreement.
 * Philip Hammond will 'not exclude' backing no confidence vote to stop no-deal Brexit BBC News (19 July 2019)


 * [No-deal Brexit is] not something I could ever sign up to
 * Philip Hammond plans to quit if Johnson becomes PM BBC News (21 July 2019)


 * [No-deal Brexit would be] just as much a betrayal of the referendum result as not leaving at all
 * Boris Johnson: Brexit opponents 'collaborating' with EU BBC News (14 August 2019)


 * There is no mandate for a no-deal Brexit and a no-deal Brexit will be a catastrophe for the United Kingdom.
 * Brexit: MPs back bill aimed at blocking no deal BBC News (4 September 2019)