7 things you didn't know about Philip Hammond

Get to know the chancellor

Philip Hammond became chancellor of the exchequer in July 2016 when Theresa May became Prime Minister. With his first Autumn Statement as Chancellor nearing in November, here are seven things you didn’t know about him:

1. Philip was born in Epping, Essex in 1955 and attended school in Brentwood before studying politics, philosophy and economics at University College, Oxford.
2. Philip had a business career in small and medium-sized companies in manufacturing, consultancy, property and construction, and oil and gas, both in the UK and abroad.
3. He is married with three children and lives in Send, Surrey.
4. He first got involved in politics in 1979 when he volunteered to help in the General Election campaign in the Westminster North constituency.
5. He is the second richest member in cabinet with a net worth of £8.2m, just under Lord Strathclyde with £9.6m.
6. He has described his proudest political achievement as when he forced the Home Office to back down on a plan to locate a hostel for convicted paedophiles in a country mansion that it had secretly refurbished in the middle of Runnymede, yards from a primary school.
7. As Defence Secretary, he announced that the first women could go on Royal Navy Submarines in 2011. They began serving in late 2013.