Home Office minister Kit Malthouse lets slip that Boris Johnson intends to hold an ’emergency Budget’ A promised spending spree could also pave the way to Mr Johnson calling the election which many MPs believe is inevitable by the end of 2019

A minister let slip that Boris Johnson intends to hold an “emergency Budget” in the autumn, fuelling suggestions that Britain is heading for a no-deal Brexit and a snap election within months.

Kit Malthouse, a Home Office minister, revealed the move in two interviews elaborating on Boris Johnson’s moves to boost police numbers.

“The Prime Minister has also announced there’s going to be an emergency Budget in the autumn which will be designed to stimulate the economy,” Mr Malthouse told Sky News.

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“What you hope is that a more strongly growing economy will produce greater tax revenue which we can pay for some of the things that we want to do.”

Budget plans gaffe

Downing Street and the Treasury played down his comments, insisting there were “no plans” for an autumn budget.

But his remarks reinforce speculation that Mr Johnson will need to take tough action to bolster the economy during the potential upheaval of an abrupt departure from the European Union on 31 October.

A promised spending spree could also pave the way to Mr Johnson calling the election which many MPs believe is inevitable by the end of the year.

Mr Malthouse, a close ally of the new Prime Minister, indicated the plans to recruit another 20,000 police officers over the next three years could be partly paid for by more borrowing.

Spending pledges

Asked whether the government’s multiple spending promises meant an election was in sight, he replied: “No, no, no, I think this is perfectly achievable.”

A Treasury spokesman also said it would be up to the new Chancellor, Sajid Javid, to announce the timing of any “fiscal event” such as a budget.

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said there were “no plans” for an emergency budget. He said: “Fiscal events, as you know, are announced by the Treasury.”

Mr Malthouse, who was Mr Johnson’s policing deputy when he was Mayor of London, said the first year of the increase in police numbers would cost about £500m. During the campaign Mr Johnson’s team estimated the cost of the three-year recruitment campaign at £1.1bn.

He argued that stepping up the fight against crime was not just about higher police numbers but also about “priorities, capacity and capability”. He said that talks were urgently needs with police chiefs on reforms to help them target their resources more effectively.