May’s ‘toxic’ aides made to quit after election shock
London, June 10: British Prime Minister Theresa May’s two closest advisers, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, resigned Saturday after taking responsibility for the poll debacle that cost the Conservative Party its majority in the House of Commons.
The joint chiefs of staff, considered part of the Prime Minister’s inner circle of confidants, were made to quit their Downing Street top jobs after coming under fire as the duo responsible for convincing Ms May to call a snap general elections with claims that she was assured a landslide victory.
Though senior party
Senior party figures reportedly demanded the departure of May’s joint chiefs of staff, Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, in return for allowing the PM to stay in office
figures had cautioned against any immediate leadership challenge, saying it would cause further disruption as
Britain prepares to start Brexit negotiations in nine days, reports suggest that they demanded the departure of Mr Timothy and Ms Hill as the price for allowing the 60-year-old vicar’s daughter to stay in office.
The PM was warned that she faced a leadership challenge unless she sacked them.
According to the BBC, several MPs believed that unless the two aides left, Ms May would not be able to change her leadership style to adopt a more “outgoing, inclusive, responsive, empathetic approach”.
The Prime Minister had relied on Mr Timothy and Ms Hill for advice and support since her previous job at the interior ministry, and their resignations will be a personal blow.
A party spokesman confirmed the resignation of Ms Hill, a combative character who one ex-colleague said had helped create a “toxic” atmosphere at the heart of government.
“The atmosphere if the chiefs of staff weren’t there was great; it was not if they were there,” Katie Perrior, a former Downing Street director of communications, was quoted as saying by the Guardian about the 8.30 am meetings with Ms May.
Ms Hill and Mr Timothy “bullied and badly treated Cabinet ministers”, Ms Perrior said. They would send people “rude text messages”, she added.
Mr Timothy said he took responsibility for the Conservative manifesto, including a plan for elderly social care that caused a backlash among many core voters.
The news of their resignation came as Ms May prepared to name the rest of her Cabinet, after revealing Friday that her five most senior ministers would remain in their posts.
Labour said the pair had “taken the fall” for the Prime Minister.