Philip Hammond, British finance minister, is “prepared to resign” over Prime Minister Theresa May’s legacy spending plans.
According to ITV, senior government sources said tension between officials at the treasury and the prime minister’s office had reached boiling point over May’s spending intentions.
May’s intention to spend up to £9 billion ($11.3 billion) each year on education over three years, including plans to build new schools and pay teachers higher wages has reportedly sparked tension.
“May’s chancellor, Hammond opposes those plans and is prepared to resign, in what would be an extraordinary move just weeks before the PM leaves office,” ITV said in its report.
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The British government is said to be asking Hammond to free up money from the £26.6-billion “war chest” he set aside in case of a no-deal Brexit.
Theresa May resigned as the Conservative Party’s leader on June 7 but said she would stay on as prime minister until the leadership contest was concluded.
Boris Johnson, a former London mayor and foreign minister, is ahead in the race to become party leader.
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Despite deciding to steer clear of debates with his rivals, his popularity has not gone down.
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