philip hammond, baron hammond of runnymede (born 4 december 1955) is an english politician. he was born in epping, essex. he became chancellor of the exchequer in 2016. he became secretary of state for transport on 12 may 2010, and a privy counsellor on 13 may 2010. he was the first member of parliament for the runnymede and weybridge constituency in the united kingdom. he was first elected in the 1997 general election. in 2017, he announced the midlands engine strategy.