King (pictured) was expected to have voted for further QE at this morning’s meeting, having done so for the previous four months, though voting decisions will not be known for a further two weeks.

Regardless of his final vote, the MPC opted to leave both interest rates on hold at record lows and QE unchanged at £375bn.

The MPC has been split 6-3 against further stimulus for the previous four months, with recent improvements in economic data seemingly strengthening the hawks’ hand.

Capital Economics said today it expects Mark Carney, who takes over as BoE governor this month, to usher in “a new wave of monetary stimulus” despite the presence of the committee’s anti-QE contingent.

The decision to hold interest rates at a historic low of 0.5% means they have remained at this level for 51 consecutive months.