Javid was only in the post for less than seven months, making him the shortest serving finance minister in half a century. — Reuters pic
His unexpected exit less than two weeks after Britain left the European Union, and with the budget due on March 11, triggered shockwaves. A 39-year-old former high-flying business investor who only entered politics five years ago, Sunak now has to steer the key department at a time when the British economy is slowing.
“Given the new chancellor's relative lack of a power base and rapid ascent of the political ladder, the forthcoming budget will probably be more of the prime minister’s making than would otherwise have been the case,” he added.Johnson won comfortably at the last election in December vowing to boost public spending in key areas such as health, education and policing.