Brevia Consulting is providing a weekly round-up and analysis of the UK headlines. This week, read about Rishi Sunak’s appointment as Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party, the Chancellor pushing back the Government’s fiscal statement to 17 November, and the imminent election facing the Stormont assembly.
RISHI SUNAK BECOMES NEW PRIME MINISTER
Rishi Sunak has succeeded Liz Truss as Leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister. During the leadership contest. Sunak was the only MP to receive over 100 votes from Conservative MPs, with opponent Penny Mordaunt withdrawing shortly before the 2pm cut off time. Former PM Boris Johnson similarly withdrew from the contest, saying that he could no longer unite the party.[1] The new PM has formed his Cabinet, with ministerial appointments similarly underway. Jeremy Hunt remains Chancellor, as does Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.[2] Controversially, the PM re-appointed Suella Braverman as Home Secretary despite her breach of the Ministerial Code. The decision was widely criticised, including by prominent Conservative MPs such as former party chair Jake Berry, who accused the Home Secretary of being responsible for ‘multiple breaches of ministerial code’.[3]
CHANCELLOR’S FISCAL STATEMENT PUSHED BACK TO 17 NOVEMBER
The Chancellor has announced he is moving the Government’s next fiscal statement, due on 31 October, to 17 November.[4] It will also be upgraded from a Medium-Term Fiscal Plan to a full Autumn Statement with wider tax and spending plans announced. It will be accompanied by a report from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The delay will allow the new Prime Minister and Cabinet to agree their plans as well as ensure the OBR forecast takes account of a calmer gilt market now that Liz Truss’ proposals have been abandoned. The Government will be hoping this reduces the fiscal hole they are trying to fill. However, the Bank of England will now announce its next decision on interest rates on 3 November without knowing the full detail of the Government’s plans.
STORMONT FACING IMMINENT SNAP ELECTION
Northern Ireland is set to face another Stormont assembly election in December. On 27 October, Sinn Féin and the Alliance Party held a special sitting of the assembly in a last-ditch attempt to elect a Speaker. This effort was blocked however by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), who refuse to restore power-sharing and form an executive. The DUP continues to oppose the Northern Ireland Protocol, arguing that the Irish Sea Border, which imposes checks on goods entering the country from Great Britain, threatens Northern Ireland’s position in the United Kingdom.[5] Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O’Neill criticised Jeffrey Donaldson, Leader of the DUP, saying ‘this is his mess, and a failure of leadership by him and his party’.[6] Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris must now call an election within 12 weeks.
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Notes
[1] The Guardian, ‘New Tory leader Rishi Sunak says party facing ‘existential threat’’, 24 October 2022, Link
[2] Prime Minister’s Office, ‘Ministerial Appointments commencing: 25 October 2022’, Link
[3] The Times, ‘Suella Braverman broke ministerial code multiple times, says Jake Berry’, 27 October 2022, Link
[4] HM Treasury, Twitter, 26 October 2022, Link
[5] The Guardian, ‘Why is Northern Ireland facing another Stormont election?’, 27 October 2022, Link
[6] The Guardian, ‘Northern Ireland set for snap election after Stormont fails to elect speaker’, 27 October 2022, Link
