SAJID Javid has been given the top of Chancellor in Boris Johnson’s new government – and he’s set to turn on the spending taps too.
Mr Javid, who has a background in economics and banking himself, will take over from ‘Fiscal Phillip Hammond’ who famously tightened the purse strings for years to put Britain’s economy back on track.
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He’s regularly told how his dad arrived in the country from Pakistan with just a pound in his pocket, and he had to experience horrific racist abuse in his childhood.
As the first from an ethnic minority background to make it to the position of Chancellor, his experience working his way to the top is likely to feature highly in No11.
The ex-Deutsche Bank manager’s priorities will likely be what Boris announced in his first Downing Street speech yesterday, where he promised to make domestic policies a key part of his first days in power.
POLICE – £1.1bn
One of the new PM’s pledges was to boost police numbers again to tackle violent crime across the country, and he’s sure to make this a priority on the home front.
In his speech yesterday it was one of the first things he mentioned as he addressed the nation for the first time.
Boris promised: “My job is to make your streets safer – and we are going to begin with another 20,000 police on the streets.”
As Home Secretary Mr Javid has successfully fought for more money for police, and urged Theresa May to boost the numbers again.
He will likely want to make this one of the first things he signs off, as it will definitely be a popular policy.
NHS AND CARE – £unknown
Boris said yesterday: “My job is to make sure you don’t have to wait 3 weeks to see your GP.
And he insisted he had new plans in the pipeline to deal with care costs too.
Mr Javid will be working with Matt Hancock, who kept his job as Health Secretary last night, to thrash out a plan.
The pair will face an uphill battle to sort out a plan that doesn’t alienate older voters like Theresa May did back in the 2017 election, which was dubbed the ‘Dementia tax’.
EDUCATION AND SCHOOLS – £4.6bn
Boris said yesterday: “My job is to make sure your kids get a superb education, wherever they are in the country.
“And that is the work that begins immediately behind that black door.”
Mr Javid will be tasked with finding the cash to make sure he can meet his promise of spending at least £5,000 on every secondary school pupil.
BREXIT BUDGET AND NO DEAL PREP – £unknown
Mr Javid will also start on preparing his first Budget ready for November.
If Britain leaves the EU without a deal, however, he’ll likely have to get a Brexit Budget sorted too, to cushion any economic uncertainty that might come.
Boris will want to give Britain some feel-good factor after we leave the EU (think delivering on some of the above) but he may also have to splash the cash to keep the economy growing too, which could eat up any spare money quickly.
The new PM’s already vowed to ramp up No Deal planning in No10, which he’ll likely get on with right away.
Getting Britain ready to leave the EU with or without an agreement by the end of October will be his main priority for the next 98 days.
TAXES – £9bn + £11bn
Mr Javid has also said he wanted to scrap the highest rate of income tax – another thing Boris is keen to take action on.
The now-PM said he wanted to raise the top income tax threshold from £50,000 to £80,000 so more people would pay a lower rate.
The pair will likely discuss both plans and which they have the cash for – and the votes to get through the Commons.
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This might not be a priority for either of them, however, as with a slim majority it’s unlikely that MPs will vote to pass tax cuts for the rich before they take action for those who are less well off.
But a cut to the 20p rate of tax will be far more expensive.
Boris said in his leadership campaign he wants to look at taking lower-paid Brits out of National Insurance too.
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