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Theresa May's chief aide Nick Timothy quits after disastrous Tory election campaign Theresa May's chief aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill quit after disastrous Tory election campaign
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May’s key aide Nick Timothy has resigned, taking the blame for the fiasco of the social care U-turn which torpedoed her election campaign. Theresa May’s key aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill have resigned, taking the blame for her disastrous election campaign.
Mr Timothy said he was determined to “take responsibility for my part in this election campaign, which was the oversight of our policy programme”. Mr Timothy said he was taking responsibility for the social care U-turn which torpedoed her manifesto, acknowledging he had “oversight of our policy programme”.
“In particular, I regret the decision not to include in the manifesto a ceiling as well as a floor in our proposal to help meet the increasing cost of social care,” he added.“In particular, I regret the decision not to include in the manifesto a ceiling as well as a floor in our proposal to help meet the increasing cost of social care,” he added.
The future of the Prime Minister’s other joint chief of staff, Fiona Hill, is uncertain, after some Conservative MPs demanded her dismissal as well. A Conservative spokesman quickly announced that Fiona Hill, Ms May's other joint chief of staff, had also resigned.
Mr Timothy’s departure may ease the pressure on May herself, after a majority of Tory members called for her to fall on her sword in one survey. The twin departures will ease the pressure on Ms May herself, after a majority of Tory members called for her to fall on her sword in one survey.
He urged Conservative MPs to “unite behind the Prime Minister, and focus on the need to heal the divisions in our country” Strikingly, Mr Timothy urged Conservative MPs to “unite behind the Prime Minister, and focus on the need to heal the divisions in our country”
The appeal reflected the growing belief among Tory MPs that Ms May should stay only in the short term, to provide stability and start the Brexit talks, before making way.
Since Friday’s results, some senior Tories are referring to Ms May as an “interim leader” – and her Cabinet has failed to come out publicly to support her.
Ms Hill released only a short statement saying it had been “a pleasure to work with such an excellent Prime Minister”.
“I have no doubt at all that Theresa May will continue to serve and work hard as Prime Minister – and do it brilliantly,” Ms Hill added.
The resignations came just hours after another former Downing Street aide revealed how she oversaw a “toxic” operation at No 10 and relied on Ms Hill’s “crazy ideas”.
Katie Perrior lifted the lid on a “dysfunctional” operation, which saw Cabinet ministers bombarded with rude text messages by the twin chiefs of staff.
Although the departures of Mr Timothy and Ms Hill will buy the Prime Minister breathing space, they are also a huge personal blow to her.
The pair worked with Ms May through her time as Home Secretary and were seen as crucial to her project to re-make the Tory party.
Meanwhile, it would require 15 per cent of Conservative MPs – a total of 48 – to write to Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, to trigger a vote of no-confidence in her leadership.
 
 
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