Rishi Sunak’s VERY expensive tastes: Chancellor poses for mini-Budget preparation photograph with £180 ‘smart’ mug which keeps your tea at the same temperature for three hours
- Rishi Sunak posed for pictures in Treasury this afternoon ahead of mini-Budget
- Traditional photos had a modern twist as Chancellor showed off his ‘smart’ mug
- Chancellor has a Ember Travel Mug which keeps drinks warm for three hours
Chancellor Rishi Sunak delivered a modern twist on the traditional pre-Budget photograph today as he posed with his £180 ‘smart’ mug.
Mr Sunak’s recent predecessors in Number 11 were all snapped the day before they delivered a big financial address.
Philip Hammond was memorably pictured drinking a cup of tea back in 2018 while George Osborne tweeted a picture in 2013 of him eating a burger and chips as he prepared.
But Mr Sunak, 40, showed off his expensive tastes as he prepares to splash the cash tomorrow.
He was photographed looking over his mini-Budget plans with a Ember Travel Mug displayed prominently on his desk.
The mug, which currently sells online for £180, keeps drinks warm for three hours.
More than that, a smart phone app allows the user to set the exact temperature they want their beverage to be kept at.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak today posed for a photograph in the Treasury as he prepares his mini-Budget which he will deliver in the Commons tomorrow
Mr Sunak’s £180 ‘smart’ mug is in stark contrast to Philip Hammond’s simple mug of tea which he was photographed drinking ahead of the 2018 Budget
The mug, which uses an electronic ‘charging coaster’, was reportedly a Christmas gift from his wife.
However, while Mr Sunak may favour a pricey cup of tea, his lunch tastes appear to be somewhat cheaper.
An empty Tupperware container is pictured just behind the mug with the Chancellor said to bring in his own packed lunch to work every day.
Mr Sunak will tomorrow set out his plans for the UK economy as he tries to guide the nation out of the coronavirus crisis.
The centrepiece of his mini-Budget is expected to be a pledge to reduce stamp duty in order to give a boost to the housing market.
It was originally thought Mr Sunak would announce the move and then wait to implement it until the autumn.
But it is now expected that the cut will be rolled out immediately following warnings that a delay could cause sales to grind to a halt as people would wait for the discount.
George Osborne tweeted a picture in 2013 ahead of the spending review of him eating a burger and chips
Treasury officials have been looking at a temporary six-month increase in the stamp duty threshold from the current level of £125,000 to an amount between £300,000 and £500,000 to stimulate demand.
Other announcements are expected to include £2 billion for homeowners to spend on better insulating their homes and £1 billion to make schools and hospitals greener.
Mr Sunak is under mounting pressure to announce a fresh wave of financial support for British businesses as many sectors of the economy continue to struggle.