The Chancellor of the Exchequer was appearing on Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme when he made the comments shortly before he is due to present the UK Government’s 2020 budget to MPs in the House of Commons on Wednesday. Mr Sunak insisted he was looking at relocating about a fifth of Treasury workers to a “campus in the north of England” in a bid to disseminate British talent across the country.      

Asked about the Government’s policy of “levelling-up” – moving resources away from Westminster – Mr Sunak told Sky News: “We believe in this country that wherever you live there is opportunity for you.

“That is what levelling-up means in practice. It is not just about building a road here or a railway there – it is about ensuring that everyone can fulfil their dreams, right?

“I want to make sure the treasury is at the forefront of that – we are driving policy – so I think it is important that we have a presence everywhere in this country.

“So we will have a new economic campus in the north led by the Treasury where about a fifth of our headcount will move over time.”

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He went on to explain they would be joined by staff from other economic departments and new offices would also be opening in Northern Ireland and Wales, in addition to the existing one in Scotland.

Mr Sunak said: “I think that is absolutely the right thing to do. 

“It is a sign of our intent on delivering on this agenda.”

The Chancellor is due to present the 2020 Budget, which is expected to address fears over the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and its impact on the economy, to MPs on Wednesday.

More to follow…