BROMSGROVE MP Sajid Javid said he was deeply honoured to be the one placed in charge of the UK’s finances as new Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Government try to get Brexit completed by October 31.
Mr Javid was one of the first to be appointed to the new-look cabinet when he was announced as the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Wednesday evening.
Mr Javid said: “Clearly there is hard work to be done, and key challenges ahead.
“I’m looking forward to working with HM Treasury to prepare for leaving the EU and priming our economy for the incredible opportunities that lie ahead.
“It is vital that we all unite behind our new Prime Minister to deliver Brexit and to defeat Jeremy Corbyn.”
He also praised his Bromsgrove constituents for getting him ‘to where he is today’ and added he was looking forward to continuing to fight hard for the district’s residents.
Mr Javid was widely-tipped to move from his role as Home Secretary to become the new Chancellor after a successful 18-year career in banking before he headed into politics in 2010.
The 49-year-old was one of the few people to maintain a cabinet position as 17 members were either axed by Mr Johnson or quit their posts in what has been billed as the biggest Government overhaul in British history.
Mr Johnson has been seen as a controversial figure who has been accused in the past of using racist and sexist language.
Others have also questioned whether he will be able to negotiate a better deal with the EU than the one Theresa May achieved.
l Prior to Wednesday’s announcement, Mr Javid wrote his monthly Westminster Diary for The Standard, reflecting on what he had accomplished as Home Secretary.
