Philip Hammond has one foot in the political grave — as ministers tired of his gloomy Brexit outlook want Theresa May to ‘sack him’
PHILIP Hammond has one foot in the political grave — as ministers tired of his gloomy Brexit outlook want him axed.
One likened him to TV grump Victor Meldrew — after a horror week left him fighting for survival with dwindling Cabinet support.
The Chancellor’s fed-up colleague said: “The balance has shifted against Philip in the past week.
“His miserable, downbeat attitude to Brexit is wearing a bit thin.
"He’s starting to sound like Victor Meldrew.”
Insiders say his position is now at tipping point, with ministers split 60-40 per cent in favour of sacking him.
He is increasingly isolated as even fellow Remainers tire of his bleak outlook.
Ladbrokes offered 5-1 odds on him being the next minister axed.
Cabinet pals have lost patience after he first enraged Leavers and No10 by suggesting it would be wrong to spend cash planning for a “No Deal” Brexit.
Two days later Mr Hammond blundered again, enraging Remainers as he called the EU “the enemy”.
An insider said: “He’s gone from bad to worse and even managed to eclipse the PM’s car crash conference speech.
“All we need now is for a comedian to turn up and hand him his P45.”
There now appear to be more voices demanding Mr Hammond’s removal than that of Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson.
Most worrying for him is the plunging support of Remainer colleagues.
At least three have shown signs of their patience wearing thin. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Communities Secretary Sajid Javid both rounded on him in Cabinet a few weeks ago.
They told him that preparing for “No Deal” is vital to pressurise the EU to deliver a good one. Home Secretary Amber Rudd, another arch-Remainer, is said to be “going cool” on him.
Some have rounded on him over what they deem his pessimism on Brexit.
They see him as a “patronising technocrat” who is blocking reforms, trying to dictate other departments’ policy and not convinced about Brexit.
But they fear that by winding up Brexiteers, whose support props up Theresa May, Mr Hammond is undermining Government stability.
Phil's doubters
BREXITEERS have been at loggerheads with the Chancellor since the moment the referendum result came through.
But now Remainers are doubting him after his supposedly helpful statements backfired.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt rounded on him in Cabinet over his failure to fund preparations for a no-deal.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd was said to be “going cool” on supporting him.
Another colleague said: “He’s miserable and gloomy. He’s rarely got anything positive to say and hardly ever smiles.
“Everything is difficult. There’s a feeling he’s talking the country down.”
A Remain-voting minister added: “The past few days have shown he’s a little lacking in political nous.
"He needs a job that requires no emotional intelligence.”
Close pals believe he has five weeks to turn things around with an impressive pro-Brexit Budget on November 22.
The PM is tipped to delay a reshuffle, giving him a stay of execution.
But his few remaining supporters fear he cannot win plaudits for his spending plans as so many knives are out for him.
One said: “He faces a thankless task. There are so many people out to get him. They will be combing through the small print to find the slightest fault.
“The truth is that full-on Brexiteers don’t like the fact Philip doesn’t buy into their utopian vision of Brexit but is being prudent and cautious.”
DUP MPs order Theresa May to deal with Philip Hammond
DUP MPs have demanded Theresa May tells Chancellor Philip Hammond he faces the sack unless he changes his stance on Brexit.
Senior parliamentary sources for the DUP, which is propping up the Conservative government, said they were "deeply concerned about Philip Hammond's behaviour".
In an interview with , the source accused Mr Hammond of attempting to "frustrate the negotiating process" and "undermine the Prime Minister".
They said: "We are very concerned about Philip Hammond's behaviour.
"It is evident to us that he is winding people up and causing unnecessary division within the Conservative Party at a crucial time in the Brexit negotiations, and his behaviour is very unsettling.
"One has to wonder what his motivation is. He appears to be at least highly sceptical about Brexit and one could conclude from his current position and his behaviour that he is trying to frustrate the negotiating process and to undermine the Prime Minister."
They added: "If this behaviour continues the Chancellor's position becomes untenable."
Mrs May last week insisted she would not shy away from sacking key ministers, saying: “I didn’t come into politics for an easy ride.” She is unlikely to axe both Mr Hammond and Mr Johnson as it would shock the EU.
Ditching a Chancellor a month before Budget Day would also be destabilising.
A source said: “Philip would be an easier target. If she sacked Boris, he has a lot of support and could mount a leadership challenge at any time.
“Philip would probably be a backbench nuisance.
"But he doesn’t have a circle of supporters who want him to be leader, so he would be a manageable threat.”
The 'safe hands'
THERESA May has plenty of options to replace Mr Hammond if she decides to give him the boot next month.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and Home Secretary Amber Rudd — both seen as a safe pair of hands — are front-runners.
But she may decide to opt for a Brexiteer, such as International Development Secretary Priti Patel, who has experience in the Treasury and the City.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove and David Gauke at Work and Pensions could be in the running.
