Chancellor’s speech cancelled as spending round brought forward
Chancellor Sajid Javid’s debut spending review has been pushed forward, fuelling speculation of an autumn General Election.
Javid was due to set out his vision for the role, and the current state of the economy, in a speech given from Birmingham tomorrow (Wednesday).
However, this has been cancelled while the spending round has been brought forward to 4 September, the day after MPs return from summer recess.
Read more: Downing Street ramps up election prep as Corbyn throws gauntlet
One source told Morning Wire the decision to pull the speech had come from Number 10.
The source declined to comment on whether the move related to an impending election, but added: “It’s not unfair to say they [Number 10] are talking about one as if it is happening. The question is when is it happening.”
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is currently riding high in the polls – and among his European counterparts, following a constructive set of talks in the run up to and during the G7 summit this weekend.
The fast-tracked spending round will set departmental budgets for 2020/21, with a full multi-year spending review due to take place in 2020.
The Treasury said: “The Spending Round will deliver on the Prime Minister’s priorities – including health, schools, and the police – while still meeting the existing fiscal rules.
“Thanks to the hard work of the British people over the last decade, we can afford to spend more on the people’s priorities while still meeting the fiscal rules.”
Main image: Getty