YP Comment

The central message of the Conservative election campaign was a plea to voters to end the Parliamentary deadlock and give Boris Johnson a working majority so he could deliver Brexit and govern with power and purpose.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Feb 2020, 05:45 BST
Newly installed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaving Downing Street, London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his Cabinet. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA WireNewly installed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaving Downing Street, London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his Cabinet. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire
Newly installed Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak leaving Downing Street, London, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson reshuffled his Cabinet. Picture: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

The electorate fulfilled that wish and with Britain now out of the European Union, albeit currently aligned to its rules and regulations during a transition period, next month’s Budget offers a further opportunity for the Conservatives to meet their side of the bargain.

Who is Rishi Sunak? The rise and rise of the new Chancellor

Yorkshire MP Rishi Sunak has confirmed there will be no delay to the Budget date of March 11th following speculation it may be delayed after his unexpected promotion to Chancellor following Sajid Javid’s resignation during last week’s reshuffle.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (right), presides over the first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, London, since the reshuffle. Picture: Matt Dunham/PA WirePrime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (right), presides over the first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, London, since the reshuffle. Picture: Matt Dunham/PA Wire
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, alongside new Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (right), presides over the first Cabinet meeting at 10 Downing Street, London, since the reshuffle. Picture: Matt Dunham/PA Wire
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Given Mr Javid resigned after being ordered to fire his closest aides and replace them with advisers chosen by Number 10 – conditions he said “no self-respecting minister would accept” – there have been some mischievous suggestions that Mr Sunak will have little say over his Budget.

Such analysis does Mr Sunak, an Oxford and Stanford-educated 39-year-old who co-founded an investment firm before going into politics, a disservice. In the very early days of his political employment, Mr Sunak took the principled decision to campaign for Leave despite its potential consequences for his career under then Prime Minister David Cameron while he has proven to be a committed constituency MP campaigning on issues such as fairer funding for rural schools.

He now has the chance to be the man to deliver on his party’s promise to “level up” the country with well-targeted investment while respecting the Tory manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, VAT or National Insurance.

Yorkshire will be watching closely to see if he can do so.

Related topics:Boris JohnsonBudgetBrexitDavid Cameron