British finance minister announces extra £2 billion for Brexit spending

Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Sajid Javid leaves 11 Downing Street in central London on Sept 3, 2019. PHOTO: AFP

LONDON (REUTERS) - British finance minister Sajid Javid will on Wednesday announce an extra £2 billion (S$3.36 billion) of funding for Brexit-related spending by government departments after Britain is due to leave the European Union on Oct 31.

The finance ministry said the new money would bring the total funding for Brexit preparedness to £8.3 billion since the 2016 referendum decision to leave the EU.

The new money will be directed towards Brexit projects involving the Border Force, support for ports and money for exploring a British satellite navigation system, the Treasury said in a statement.

"This new funding will ensure that departments can grasp the opportunities created by Brexit after we leave on Oct 31," Javid said.

Javid, in his first major speech since taking over the public purse strings in July, will promise more money for "the people's priorities" - education, health and the police - after a decade of tight spending controls that has frustrated voters.

Javid is expected to present his spending round at around 1200 GMT.

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