Pleased to have commented in PR Week article.
For Stuart Thomson, head of public affairs at law firm Bircham Dyson Bell, the change to Budget/Statement arrangements is indicative of the Government seeking “clarity of purpose” and wanting to allow individuals and businesses more time, if announcements are made in the autumn ahead of them taking effect in the New Year, to react to changes and plan accordingly.
However, he also said the news may indicate that Hammond – unlike previous Chancellors Gordon Brown and George Osborne – has no ambitions of higher office.
“If you’re a Chancellor, obviously you might get something at party conference, but the only other time you get to be absolutey centre of attention, the star, is Autumn Statement and Budget.”
On Hammond’s delivery yesterday, Thomson said: “I thought he delivered it a lot better than I thought he would – expectations were pretty low.”