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| May removed Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill 'under threat of leadership bid' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The prime minister’s closest advisers have resigned in the wake of the general election that resulted in the Conservatives losing their majority and prompted calls for Theresa May to step down. | The prime minister’s closest advisers have resigned in the wake of the general election that resulted in the Conservatives losing their majority and prompted calls for Theresa May to step down. |
| Nick Timothy, one of May’s two chiefs of staff, announced his resignation on Saturday in a letter posted on ConservativeHome. Fiona Hill has also resigned, a Conservative spokesman confirmed. | Nick Timothy, one of May’s two chiefs of staff, announced his resignation on Saturday in a letter posted on ConservativeHome. Fiona Hill has also resigned, a Conservative spokesman confirmed. |
| There had been warnings that May could face a leadership challenge as early as Monday unless the two left their jobs. | There had been warnings that May could face a leadership challenge as early as Monday unless the two left their jobs. |
| MPs said that the removal of Timothy and Hill was the only way for May to stay on, with other figures such as Boris Johnson waiting in the wings. | MPs said that the removal of Timothy and Hill was the only way for May to stay on, with other figures such as Boris Johnson waiting in the wings. |
| In his post confirming his departure, Timothy wrote: “Yesterday, I resigned as the prime minister’s adviser. Clearly, the general election result was a huge disappointment. I take responsibility for my part in this election campaign.” | In his post confirming his departure, Timothy wrote: “Yesterday, I resigned as the prime minister’s adviser. Clearly, the general election result was a huge disappointment. I take responsibility for my part in this election campaign.” |
| Hill said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve in government, and 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.” | Hill said: “It’s been a pleasure to serve in government, and 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.” |
| Referring to the controversial “dementia tax” policy that blighted May’s campaign, Timothy wrote in his letter: “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.” | Referring to the controversial “dementia tax” policy that blighted May’s campaign, Timothy wrote in his letter: “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.” |
| The policy and May’s subsequent U-turn were considered among the most damaging of a series of missteps during the campaign. But in his letter Timothy said reports that the policy was his brainchild were“bizarre”. | The policy and May’s subsequent U-turn were considered among the most damaging of a series of missteps during the campaign. But in his letter Timothy said reports that the policy was his brainchild were“bizarre”. |
| He said: “It had been the subject of many months of work within Whitehall, and it was not my personal pet project.” He said he had chosen not to rebut the claims “as to have done so would have been a distraction for the campaign”. | He said: “It had been the subject of many months of work within Whitehall, and it was not my personal pet project.” He said he had chosen not to rebut the claims “as to have done so would have been a distraction for the campaign”. |
| The two had faced severe criticism of their role in the campaign and management of May’s office. Senior members of May’s team said that both had to go, with anger at Hill in particular for bullying behaviour. | The two had faced severe criticism of their role in the campaign and management of May’s office. Senior members of May’s team said that both had to go, with anger at Hill in particular for bullying behaviour. |
| “It’s unacceptable for her to send sweary texts to cabinet ministers,” said another member of the cabinet who described Hill telling a senior government figure to “fuck off”. | “It’s unacceptable for her to send sweary texts to cabinet ministers,” said another member of the cabinet who described Hill telling a senior government figure to “fuck off”. |
| Others were angry at Timothy for drafting the social care policy in the manifesto. They said there was no “retail offer” and no attempt to explain why they weren’t including a string of giveaways. | Others were angry at Timothy for drafting the social care policy in the manifesto. They said there was no “retail offer” and no attempt to explain why they weren’t including a string of giveaways. |
| Katie Perrior, the former director of communications at No 10, said on Saturday morning that the operation was “pretty dysfunctional”. | Katie Perrior, the former director of communications at No 10, said on Saturday morning that the operation was “pretty dysfunctional”. |
| Writing in the Times, she said: “What I could never work out was whether Mrs May condoned their behaviour and turned a blind eye or didn’t understand how destructive they both were. For all the love of a hierarchy, the chiefs treated cabinet members exactly the same – rude, abusive, childish behaviour. | Writing in the Times, she said: “What I could never work out was whether Mrs May condoned their behaviour and turned a blind eye or didn’t understand how destructive they both were. For all the love of a hierarchy, the chiefs treated cabinet members exactly the same – rude, abusive, childish behaviour. |
| “For two people who have never achieved elected office, I was staggered at the disrespect they showed on a daily basis. I never hated them. I felt sorry for them and how they measured success by how many enemies they had clocked up.” | “For two people who have never achieved elected office, I was staggered at the disrespect they showed on a daily basis. I never hated them. I felt sorry for them and how they measured success by how many enemies they had clocked up.” |