BSS, London :
Britain on Wednesday delivers its first budget since the Brexit referendum, with economists expecting a slight shift away from years of austerity as the nation readies its EU exit strategy.
The Conservative government’s finance minister Philip Hammond will deliver his so-called Autumn Statement before parliament around 1230 GMT Wednesday- exactly five months after the Brexit vote.
“We need to be match fit for the opportunities and challenges” arising from Brexit, Hammond declared on Sunday, while warning that Britain still faced an “eye-watering” deficit.
Prime Minister Theresa May has vowed to trigger Britain’s exit from the European Union by the end of March, after disaffected British voters sent shockwaves across the world in the June 23 referendum by choosing to leave the bloc.
Some economists argue that Donald Trump’s shock election as US president could similarly persuade May’s administration to do more to help workers who have felt shunned by government policies.
“May has made it clear that she wants to prioritise helping those households who are struggling to get by and who feel left behind by the economy’s recovery since the 2008/9 slump,” said IHS Markit economist Howard Archer.
“June’s Brexit vote and Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election has highlighted the need for governments to tackle income inequality.”
The British economy has proven surprisingly resilient since the referendum but experts believe that Britain’s planned departure from the EU could still spark economic chaos.
That in turn could limit the amount of planned austerity reduction in Hammond’s budget speech.
“Given the number of unknowns surrounding Brexit, Hammond will have a tough job,” noted City Index analyst Fiona Cincotta.
“We can expect the Autumn Statement to be a glimpse of what we can expect once the divorce proceedings with the European Union begin next year.”
