Philip Hammond Quotes

Powerful Philip Hammond for Daily Growth

About Philip Hammond

**Philip Hammond** (born 30 January 1955) is a British politician who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in Theresa May's Cabinet from July 2016 to July 2019. Born and raised in Solihull, Warwickshire, Hammond attended Solihull School before studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at University College, Oxford. His interest in politics was sparked during his time at Oxford, where he became the President of the Oxford Union – a role that provided him with valuable debating skills and political exposure. After graduating, Hammond worked as a researcher for the Conservative Research Department and later joined the management consultancy firm KPMG. He entered Parliament in 1997, representing Runnymede and Weybridge. His rise within the Conservative Party was steady, serving as Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury (2005–2010) and Shadow Chief Whip (2010–2014). Hammond's major works as Chancellor include the 2017 Spring Budget, which focused on infrastructure investment, the National Living Wage, and a reform of business rates. He also played a key role in the Brexit negotiations, advocating for a 'soft Brexit' approach to ensure close economic ties with the European Union. Hammond is known for his pragmatic approach to politics and has been praised for his financial acumen. His tenure as Chancellor was marked by a focus on fiscal discipline, aiming to maintain the UK's triple-A credit rating. After leaving government in 2019, he has continued to voice his opinions on Brexit and the future of the Conservative Party. Despite stepping down from the frontbench, Hammond remains an influential figure in British politics.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Brexit is not an end in itself, it is a means to an end, and that end is a different kind of relationship with the EU."

This quote by Philip Hammond suggests that Brexit (the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union) was not merely a goal in itself but a step towards achieving a different type of relationship with the EU. It implies that the UK, under Hammond's perspective at least, sought changes in their partnership with the EU by leaving the union first. The focus is on transforming the nature of the relationship rather than simply leaving the EU for its own sake.


"The age of austerity is finally coming to an end."

The quote by Philip Hammann, "The age of austerity is finally coming to an end," signifies that the era of fiscal restraint and budget cutting, which had been widely implemented in many countries following economic downturns, is concluding. This suggests optimism towards increased government spending, stimulating economic growth, and perhaps easing financial burdens on citizens. It implies a transition towards more investment, expansion, and prosperity.


"We have faced some of the toughest economic challenges since the Great Depression."

The quote signifies that the speaker, Philip Hammond, is referencing a period of extreme financial hardship in the economy. By comparing the current situation to "the Great Depression," one of the most severe economic downturns in history (which occurred during the 1930s), he indicates that the challenges they are facing are significant and require exceptional measures for recovery.


"It's always darkest just before it goes pitch black."

This quote signifies that tough times or challenges often occur immediately before a more significant crisis or transition, where everything seems to worsen dramatically. The implication is that one should persist through the darkness, knowing that things cannot get much worse, and that better days are just around the corner - when it will be pitch black.


"The British people are hard-working, innovative and entrepreneurial – they don’t need government to tell them how to spend their money."

This quote suggests that the British population is self-reliant, resourceful, and capable of making informed decisions about their finances without excessive government intervention. It implies a belief in individual initiative, innovation, and entrepreneurship among the British people, positing that they can effectively manage their own funds and do not require guidance from the government to do so. The sentiment leans towards minimalist economic policy and trusting citizens' financial decision-making abilities.


We have got this Damocles' sword of Standard and Poor's hanging over us, with the commitment they have made to review Britain's credit rating in the summer of 2010 after the general election. Everybody in Britain has a vital interest in ensuring that the triple A credit rating agency is maintained.

- Philip Hammond

Everybody, Standard, Britain, Sword

More and more, modern warfare will be about people sitting in bunkers in front of computer screens, whether remotely piloted aircraft or cyber weapons.

- Philip Hammond

Will, More, Aircraft, Cyber

We will build in Britain a cyber strike capability so we can strike back in cyber space against enemies who attack us, putting cyber alongside land, sea, air and space as a mainstream military activity.

- Philip Hammond

Britain, Alongside, Putting, Cyber

Cyber weapons provide the tantalising possibility of being able to cripple the enemy without inflicting lasting damage on them.

- Philip Hammond

Enemy, Them, Damage, Cyber

Sound public finances are the essential foundation on which to construct a better-balanced economy from the wreckage of Labour's boom and bust. But it is economic growth that will create the jobs and the prosperity for the future and enable us to pay down Labour's debt.

- Philip Hammond

Foundation, Sound, Boom, Essential

It is a significant gamble to assume that troops in our U.K. Armed Forces would volunteer for a Scottish Defence Force.

- Philip Hammond

Gamble, Significant, Defence, Scottish

Scotland forms a crucial part of our Armed Forces which should not be jeopardised by rushed cuts or a rush to the exit from the U.K. Defence jobs are vital to the Scottish economy and yet independence puts thousands of jobs at risk.

- Philip Hammond

Part, Defence, Crucial, Scottish

While I believe firmly in open markets and free trade, I also believe an open market needs a level playing field.

- Philip Hammond

Level, Needs, Firmly, Level Playing Field

I remember the day after the general election when Harold Wilson had lost, I remember quite clearly cycling from my house in Hutton along Long Ridings and feeling what a relief to live in a country with a Tory government again.

- Philip Hammond

Country, I Remember, Had, Harold

Talking to the Taliban is a process the Afghans have to manage. It is their country.

- Philip Hammond

Process, Country, Afghans, Manage

The North Koreans or Chinese may have a million men in uniform but it's about how you perform.

- Philip Hammond

Uniform, How, Chinese, Koreans

Disruption to the flow of oil through the Straits of Hormuz would threaten regional and global economic growth. Any attempt by Iran to close the Straits would be illegal and unsuccessful.

- Philip Hammond

Through, Disruption, Iran, Flow

Negotiating with the Taliban must be done from a position of strength. Negotiating from a position of weakness would be a disaster.

- Philip Hammond

Strength, Weakness, Would, Negotiating

When ministers in this government talk about investing in education and skills, about making the planning system work; about employment law reform and delivering transport and power generation and broadband communication infrastructure, we are talking about raising Britain's productivity.

- Philip Hammond

Education, About, Britain, Investing

The great western error about the Taliban is to assume homogeneity.

- Philip Hammond

About, Taliban, Western, Assume

Britain is one of the world's most open economies. More dependent on trade than any other major country. Our success depends on our competitiveness and our competitiveness depends on raising our productivity, as our competitors are raising theirs.

- Philip Hammond

Country, Other, Raising, Dependent

You shouldn't send people out to do a job which you cannot afford to equip them to do.

- Philip Hammond

Afford, Which, Equip, Send

Let me be absolutely clear: I think it is defeatist to sort of say we want to leave the European Union. We're going to try and change the rules and change the way it works and change the objectives that it has in order to make it something that works for Britain.

- Philip Hammond

I Think, Works, Britain, European Union

Historically, Heathrow has been something of a joke, outweighed by its excellent connections. We have to aspire to having an airport at Heathrow with two runways which is a world-class airport. It's a big challenge.

- Philip Hammond

Big, Which, Big Challenge, Connections

It is not whether an independent Scotland could go it alone and develop its own defence forces - of course it could - but what sort of forces would they be?

- Philip Hammond

Independent, Could, Defence, Scotland

There is a real sense of anger among many people who are married that the government, any government, thinks it has the ability to change the definition of an institution like marriage.

- Philip Hammond

Change, Sense, Like, Institution

The military never uses a full word if they can create an abbreviation.

- Philip Hammond

Military, Never, Create, Uses

It is in all our interests that the arteries of global trade are kept free, open and running.

- Philip Hammond

Trade, Running, Global, Interests

To those who say Britain cannot afford to invest in infrastructure, I say we cannot afford not to invest in our future.

- Philip Hammond

Afford, We Cannot, Britain

We ask the military to be in a position that, if we ask them to do a task, they are absolutely able to do it for us.

- Philip Hammond

Ask, Able, Absolutely, Task

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.