Penny Mordaunt – 2022 Statement on the Replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer

The statement made by Penny Mordaunt, the Leader of the House of Commons, in the House on 17 October 2022 following a urgent Parliamentary question from Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition.

Keir Starmer (Holborn and St Pancras) (Lab)

(Urgent Question): To ask the Prime Minister to make a statement on the replacement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer during the current economic situation.

The Leader of the House of Commons (Penny Mordaunt)

With apologies to the Leader of the Opposition and the House, the Prime Minister is detained on urgent business—[Interruption.]—and they will have to make do—[Interruption.]

Mr Speaker

Order. I must hear the answer to why the Prime Minister is not here.

Penny Mordaunt

I afraid you will have to make do with me, Mr Speaker.

The Prime Minister has taken the decision to appoint my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Surrey (Jeremy Hunt), one of the longest serving and most experienced parliamentarians, as her Chancellor. Their overriding priority is to restore financial stability in the face of volatile global conditions. We will take whatever tough decisions are necessary, and have made changes to the growth plan, which the Chancellor is waiting to update the House on as soon as this urgent question finishes.