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Hammond: a safe pair of hands for Brexit finance minister

– ‘Big Phil’ –

“Our economy now faces another period of change and challenge”, he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.

“Businesses, consumers, markets confront a new set of uncertainties – and will continue to do so until the shape of our deal with the EU becomes clear. That means time is of essence,” he wrote.

Hammond is on the centre-right of the Conservative party, and was outspoken in his opposition to gay marriage and support for cutting welfare.

As foreign minister, he played a key role in the talks with Iran over its disputed nuclear programme.

As defence minister before that, he steered Britain through deep military cuts and a troop withdrawal from Afghanistan with typically minimal drama.

Reportedly nicknamed “Big Phil” at Conservative headquarters, Hammond grew up in Essex, east of London, and won a scholarship to Oxford University, where he studied politics, philosophy and economics.

He worked in the property, construction and energy sectors before being elected to parliament in 1997, the year Labour swept to power, consigning the Tories to 13 years in opposition.

Married with three children, he represents Runnymede and Weybridge, an affluent commuter belt constituency on the outskirts of London.

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