Hammond’s twin battles

CHANCELLOR Philip Hammond is fighting a war on two fronts after Tory MPs mobilised to block his raid on pensions.

As revealed by the MoS, Mr Hammond sees the £39 billion cost of pension tax relief as a ‘pot of gold’ which could help fund a planned £20 billion-ayear boost for the NHS. But Tory rebels have warned him his plan lacks MPs’ support.

He is also arguing with No 10 over Mrs May’s pledge to end austerity, which he thinks is damaging to the Tory ‘brand’ of fiscal prudence.