Halloween fiscal statement could be delayed, says minister

James Cleverly says Rishi Sunak's government could take more time to draw up spending cut plans

• Rishi Sunak to face first PMQs - live updates

Rishi Sunak may delay a fiscal announcement that is pencilled in for Halloween and will be designed to stop the markets going into another spiral, a senior minister has admitted.

Given that the new government has only just got up and running, James Cleverly, the foreign secretary, said it may no longer be possible to stick to that date for the statement, when major spending cuts and grim forecasts about the future of the economy are expected to be laid out.