The UK Government will present the Budget on March 11 as previously announced, the new Indian-origin Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday as he vowed to unleash the country’s potential and deliver the promises made to the voters.
There had been much speculation that the Budget could be delayed after the 39-year-old son-in-law of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy replaced Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid following his shock resignation on February 13.
Now it will be presented as previously scheduled on March 11, he said on his maiden Budget. Sunak tweeted that he was “cracking on” with preparations” and would deliver the promises made to voters ahead of December’s General Election won by the Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
“Cracking on with preparations for my first Budget on March 11. It will deliver on the promises we made to the British people — levelling up and unleashing the country’s potential,” he wrote.
During the weekend, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said Budget plans were “well advanced”, but Sunak “may want time”.
He told the BBC: “The guy’s only been in place for a few days. Let’s give him a few days to decide on the date.”
Javid’s shock resignation followed rumours of tensions between him and the prime minister’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings. After Javid stepped down, No 10 announced there would now be a joint team of economic advisers for both the new chancellor and Prime Minister.