Kwasi Kwarteng blames ‘pressure’ of Queen’s death for botched mini-budget

Chancellor also sparks fresh confusion over next financial statement, saying: ‘It’s going to be 23 November’ – despite Treasury briefing it has been brought forward

Deputy Political Editor

Tuesday 04 October 2022 15:58 BST

Kwarteng shrugs off ‘little turbulence’ as he battles to regain authority after tax cut U-turn

Kwasi Kwarteng has blamed the “pressure” of the Queen’s death for mistakes in the mini-budget which has plunged the Tory party in crisis.

“We had a nation in mourning and then, literally, four days after the funeral we had the mini-budget,” the chancellor said.

“It was a high speed, high pressure environment and we could, as David Cameron used to say, have prepared the pitch a bit better.”

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