UK: Chancellor Phillip Hammond resigns

By Muhammad Mussa

LONDON (AA) - U.K. chancellor Phillip Hammond on Wednesday has resigned from his position following the election of Boris Johnson as Britain’s next prime minister.

Hammond announced his resignation after Theresa May’s final session of the prime minister’s question time and before she met the Queen to deliver her resignation. The former chancellor had said he would resign before Johnson would take office.

“I am writing to submit my resignation as Chancellor of the Exchequer ahead of your own resignation as Prime Minister this afternoon. I believe that your successor must be free to choose a Chancellor who is fully aligned with his policy position,” Hammond said in his resignation letter.

“It has been a privilege to serve as your Chancellor for just over three years since you assumed office in July 2016. Despite the uncertainty created by the unresolved issue of Brexit, we have been able to make notable progress in rebuilding the public finances and preparing the British economy for the opportunities ahead,” he added.

Hammond was at loggerheads with Johnson regarding Brexit and was at the forefront of denouncing Johnson’s support for a no-deal Brexit, warning of severe consequences if the U.K was left without a deal and stating that he would rather resign than be sacked by Johnson.

Hammond’s resignation followed the resignations of two other senior government members, David Gauke and Rory Stewart.

On Monday, Sir Alan Duncan, a senior foreign office minister, resigned in protest to Johnson, describing Brexit as a “dark cloud” and on Tuesday, Education Minister Anne Milton also resigned from her position.

Johnson was elected prime minister on Tuesday by the membership of the conservative party after receiving 92,153 votes. He is expected to form his new cabinet in the coming days and outline his national policies as well as a new Brexit agreement with the EU.