Rishi Sunak to plug £35bn black hole after delaying Budget statement while warning of ‘very difficult decisions’
RISHI Sunak has axed the Halloween economic package for a full-blown Budget next month when he will look to plug a £35billion black hole.
The PM put back the announcement to November 17 to give financial forecasts time to improve.
He warned of “very difficult decisions” ahead while No10 would not say if the pensions triple lock would stay — days after former PM Liz Truss promised it would.
The decision on whether to raise benefits in line with inflation is also set for November 17.
At his first PMQs yesterday, Mr Sunak promised to look after the poorest, saying: “I will always protect the most vulnerable.
“This Government is going to restore economic confidence and stability and we will do it in a fair and compassionate way.”
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Chancellor Jeremy Hunt echoed the PM’s message that cuts were essential.
He told Cabinet ministers that economic discipline was the “essential foundation” of the new Government.
The Policy Exchange thinktank called for a windfall tax on energy giants to net £9billion.
