Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Philip Hammond lands a new job just one week quitting as MP- and it’s at an EU firm!

The ex-Chancellor, who was sacked by Boris Johnson when he took over from Theresa May, has got a new job with Irish company Ardagh, whose headquarters are baed in both Dublin and New York. The firm is worth £3.5billion ($4.5billion) and did not disclose how much 63-year-old Mr Hammond would be paid, the Daily Telegraph reports. But the role still has to be cleared by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, which aims to prevent ministers abusing their connections after leaving politics.

Ardagh lost £38million ($50million) on sales of £7.8billion ($9.1billion) last year, the publication reports.

The company makes drinks cans and vodka bottles and Mr Hammond, who resigned last week as MP for Runnymede and Weybridge, will join the business on its board.

Mr Hammond announced seven days ago he would stand down as an MP.

The Tory rebel, who was one of 20 to lose the Whip as punishment for voting against the Government, penned a letter to his constituents announcing his resignation “with great sadness”.

He said: “I am saddened to find myself in this position after 45 years of Conservative Party membership, 22 years’ service as a Conservative MP, 12 years as an opposition front-bench spokesman and over 9 years as a cabinet minister, including service as defence secretary, foreign secretary and chancellor of the exchequer.”

Mr Hammond said the Tory party had “always had room for a wide range of opinions and has been tolerant of measured dissent”, in a dig at Mr Johnson.

“Many parliamentary colleagues have defied the party whip on occasion without any action being taken against them,” he said.

“But however aggrieved I feel at the loss of the whip, and however strongly I believe that we must deliver Brexit through a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU to protect British jobs and prosperity, I remain a Conservative and I cannot, therefore, embark upon a course of action that would represent a direct challenge in a general election to the party I have supported all my adult life.”

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His resignation was widely mocked on social media.

One Twitter user said: “Now why is it you are really doing this Phillip? Your last 22 years show nothing other than looking after oneself…so why now?”

Another said: “Should not have done what you did, absolutely unforgivable.”

Another said: “Great news. Made my day. Thank you.”

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A fourth said: “Your great sadness. Our great joy.”

Another said: “Pity you didn’t do the 3 yrs ago…better late than never.”

Another added: “This is fabulous news. You will not be missed.”

Last week, Tory MP James Cleverly called out Mr Hammond for his reasons behind not standing in the next general election.

Mr Cleverly, chairman of the Tory Party, hit out at Philip Hammond following his announcement to not stand as a Conservative MP in the December 12 election.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Cleverly said: “I absolutely disagree about the points that Philip has made about the party.

“I see the candidates that we’re selecting, I see my colleagues on the benches from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities from all parts of the UK and also represented a range of traditions.

“There are many, many people in the party both on the Government benches and those are aspiring to be MPs who have a range of views.

“I don’t agree with his analysis.

“I think the Conservative Party is a fantastic organisation, it’s been a wonderful home for me.

“I’m in the most diverse Cabinet.

“I think Philip is just wrong.”

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