Philip May married the future Prime Minister of the UK in 1980 after being introduced during a Conservative Party student disco at Oxford University. Mr May has since left politics and now works as an investment relationship manager for the Capital Group. But despite not working in politics anymore, Mr May has been accused of acting as an “informal advisor” to the Prime Minister.

In a BBC Newsnight piece entitled “A Marriage of Equals: Profile of Philip May” Conservative MP for Chichester, Andrew Tyrie, said: “Philip is clearly acting as, informally, an advisor to Theresa. Probably much like Denis did to Margaret Thatcher.”

The Mays have often been openly supportive of each other, with Mrs May referring to her husband as “her rock”.

But as an employee at the Capital Group, Mr May opened their relationship up to suggestions of conflicted interests.

Capital Group is the largest shareholder in arms manufacturer BAE Systems, whose share price has soared since the airstrikes in Syria last year.

Political investigative journalist Johnny Vedmore said: “While UK Prime Minister Theresa May supports Trump and Macron’s military action in Syria, she is also helping her husband’s investment firm to make a killing.”

The company is also the second-largest shareholder in Lockheed Martin, a US military arms firm that supplies weapons systems, aircraft and logistical support.

Last year, on April 14, the UK, US and France performed airstrikes on Syria, sanctioned by the British Prime Minister.

The Syria air strikes saw the debut of a new type of cruise missile developed by the Lockheed Martin Corporation.

As the airstrikes were carried out, Capital Group’s shares rocketed, a fact that did not go unnoticed.

The UK’s contribution to the airstrikes was reportedly to fire eighth “Storm-Shadow” missiles, each of which cost £790,000.

The missiles were manufactured by BAE Systems, where Mr May’s company hold shares.

Mrs May’s husband has worked as a relationship manager for the company since 2005.

Capital Group was also linked to the Paradise Papers scandal in 2017, after Private Eye suggested that Mr May’s company used offshore law firm Appleby to devise investments in tax havens.

When asked about Mr May’s role at the time of the scandal, a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “Mr May is involved in the development of Capital Group’s retirement solutions.

“He is not an investor but consults with other Capital associates on retirement products and solutions for clients.”

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