Jim Armitage: Spreadsheet Phil protected business from Theresa May’s scorn

Another day on the election roller-coaster, another day of speculation whether Philip Hammond’s number is up as chancellor. This time, we’re told, Amber Rudd is a contender.

Rudd has been an impressive and confident number two to the robotic PM in the campaign so far, but the loss of Spreadsheet Phil would be a pity.

Having a successful entrepreneur in No 11 with a commercial background from housebuilding to healthcare was healthy.

You got the impression the self-made millionaire understood the needs of the businesses May seems to take such pleasure in bashing.

The supposed anti-business “mistake” in his one and only Budget, of increasing National Insurance contributions by the self-employed, was not a mistake at all, merely a rebalancing of the tax burden to a rapidly growing class of people who benefit from let-offs employees don’t enjoy.

The only error — presumably from No 10 — was to order a U-turn at the behest of the tabloids.

One source close to the Tory campaign said last week that Hammond’s job is safe, at least for a while, but when the PM keeps her cards so close to her chest, who knows?

Yet more uncertainty for British businesses.