Is Sajid Javid a ‘chancellor in name only’?

Politics Explained: Javid’s first few months in office have been marred by questions over his influence

Javid was forced to scrap plans for a Budget on 6 November, less than a day after he insisted it would go ahead (Reuters)

After losing the Tory leadership race to Boris Johnson, Sajid Javid barely missed a beat before becoming the chancellor.

But his first few months in office have been marred by questions over his influence and whether he is merely “chancellor in name only”.

A chancellor can wield immense power – and their relationship with their prime minister is closely scrutinised as it can have a significant impact on the political fortunes of both politicians.

The rivalry between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown was legendary. Under Brown, the Treasury had the political clout to square up against No 10, setting up for furious rows between their teams.

Tensions existed to a lesser extent between Theresa May and Philip Hammond, perhaps because the former prime minister was notorious for trusting no one but her very closest allies.

But Hammond was still a powerful force, keeping tight control over the purse strings throughout his tenure – to the fury of some cabinet ministers.

The unusual pairing was David Cameron and George Osborne, who shared a close political partnership during their years in power.

The No 10-No 11 relationship between Johnson and Javid is in its early stages but it is clear that Johnson’s Downing Street is a powerful force, perhaps at the expense of other departments.

In an early blow to Javid’s authority, one of his top aides was unceremoniously sacked by Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s chief adviser, and marched out of Downing Street by police.

Javid was said to have not been informed about the decision to fire Sonia Khan – a popular adviser with pro-Brexit leanings – until after the incident had taken place.

In the aftermath, Javid went on the radio to trumpet his “fantastic” relationship with the prime minister. But it may have proved an unsettling incident so early into his time in No 11.

Johnson then spent the summer touring the country and making big-ticket spending pledges, which were believed to be part of an unofficial election campaign. But where this left his chancellor was unclear.

In a further blow to the chancellor, Javid’s spending round in September was overshadowed by the fallout of Johnson’s decision to sack 21 Tory MPs for rebelling against a no-deal Brexit.

It also fell on a blockbuster day in parliament where backbench MPs passed a law preventing a crash out on 31 October – known as the Benn Act – and then thwarted the prime minister’s first attempt to secure an early election.

Johnson’s decision to push for a Christmas election meant Javid was forced to scrap plans for a Budget on 6 November, less than a day after he insisted it would go ahead.

The chancellor had insisted the financial statement was on track, despite suggestions from No 10 it could be scrapped – setting tongues wagging in Westminster.

Asked explicitly whether he had become “chancellor in name only” on Friday, Javid insisted he was supportive of the prime minister’s plans.

He told the Today programme: “It is important to have a budget, of course for any chancellor it is important to have a budget. But what’s more important right now is to get this deal through parliament.

“I think the vast majority of people would agree with that and also want to get a new parliament elected.”

But in the same broadcast round, Javid claimed that the 31 October Brexit deadline was dead. He was contradicted by Johnson in an interview hours later.

In many ways, Javid is a victim of circumstances – rather than a lack of competence – caused by the roiling Brexit chaos and the blaze of Johnson’s star.

Senior Conservatives know they have to “get Brexit done” to have a hope of keeping power, so they are prepared to take it on faith for now that Johnson and Cummings can deliver.

But this leaves little room for anyone else to shine at the top of government.