Theresa May’s chief aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill QUIT after Election 2017 result as Tories warned of leadership challenge if ‘toxic’ pair didn’t resign

"I take responsibility for my part in this election campaign, which was the oversight of our policy programme.  In particular, I regret the decision not to include in the manifesto a ceiling as well as a floor in our proposal to help meet the increasing cost of social care.

"But I would like to make clear that the bizarre media reports about my own role in the policy’s inclusion are wrong: it had been the subject of many months of work within Whitehall, and it was not my personal pet project.

"I chose not to rebut these reports as they were published, as to have done so would have been a distraction for the campaign.

"But I take responsibility for the content of the whole manifesto, which I continue to believe is an honest and strong programme for government.";

He went on to say that the Conservative campaign "failed to notice the surge in Labour support" - taking aim at those like Sir Lyton Crosby who were running the election messages.

"The Conservative election campaign, however, failed to get [that Britain is a divided country] and Theresa's positive plan for the future across" he said.

Mr Timothy said this was partly "because modern campaigning techniques require ever-narrower targeting of specific voters, and we were not talking to the people who decided to vote for Labour."

With Brexit talks set to begin in just 10 days time, he also stressed the need to support the PM - and not appear weak in front of Brussels chiefs.

"I hope the Conservative Party in Parliament gets behind the Prime Minister, and allows her the political space to negotiate that deal," he said.

Fiona Hill said in a statement: "It’s been a pleasure to serve in government, and a pleasure to work with such an excellent Prime Minister. I have no doubt at all that Theresa May will continue to serve and work hard as Prime Minister – and do it brilliantly."

Tory MP Anna Soubry said the news was "excellent" and "the best thing he's done in a long time".

And Nigel Evans said he hoped a more "inclusive" style of government would now begin. "Nick Timothy was one of the architects of this social care policy that derailed us," he added.

But Labour's Tom Watson said Theresa May was "the one responsible for her own defeat".

 

 

 

This morning a former aide to Theresa May lifted the lid on the "toxic" atmosphere inside No 10 - where her top advisers Nick and Fiona were "rude, abusive and childish".