Chancellor Sajid Javid cancels first major speech, prompting fresh general election talk
Written by News on 27/08/2019
Chancellor Sajid Javid has cancelled his first major speech and instead brought forward spending announcements to early next month.
In a surprise move, Mr Javid cancelled a planned speech on Wednesday on the state of the economy at short notice.
Opponents accused the government of “panic”, while the action prompted further speculation Prime Minister Boris Johnson could be on the verge of calling a general election.
Explaining the cancellation of the chancellor’s speech, a Treasury spokesman said: “The forthcoming spending round will instead be brought forward in early September and will cover the themes and priorities he was due to outline.”
The spending review will detail the results of a review of cash allocations for Whitehall departments.
It had already been announced the efforts were being fast-tracked to next month, although the target date was previously given as just September, rather than “early September”.
After entering 11 Downing Street, Mr Javid asked for the spending review to set out public spending and investment plans for 12 months, instead of a longer-term exercise – typically planning for the next five years.
This was to “clear the ground ahead of Brexit while delivering on people’s priorities”, the chancellor said.
Theresa May’s government had originally planned for this year’s spending review to cover the next three years.
Responding to Mr Javid’s cancellation of his speech, Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “Sajid Javid is getting a record of announcing events and initiatives, and then within hours cancelling or reversing them.
“This doesn’t inspire confidence. Panic seems to be setting in inside government.”
Sky News’ economics editor Ed Conway said the move prompted “some speculation that it may have something to do with election planning”.
He added: “It is strange to have this cancelled at the last minute.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Chancellor Sajid Javid cancels first major speech, prompting fresh general election talk
