The former Goldman Sachs economist will vote for the first time this month after replacing arch-hawk Andrew Sentance, who has been voting for a rise in recent months.
The committee has been split 6-3 in favour of keeping rates on hold at 0.5%, where they have been since March 2009.
If Broadbent were to vote for rates to stay on hold, this would take the split back to 7-2 in favour of steady policy – which could mean a further delay on a future rise.
Brokers believed rates would stay on hold until at least the end of this year.
Andrew Montlake, communications director at London-based advisers Coreco, said: “I’m not sure which camp Ben Broadbent will be in. There will still be a split however I don’t expect there to be any change in the interest rates. In light of the information coming in with manufacturing slowing down, any change in the interest rate will probably be pushed back even further till at least the fourth quarter of 2011.”
Mike Fitzgerald, sales director at Essex-based broker Brentchase Financial Services, added: “Interest rates have been on hold for the past 26 months and one day interest rates will rise of course. If rates go up by even just a quarter of a point, it could shock the financial confidence of this country.
“Inflation is rising and that will go down one day. I personally don’t see an increase till autumn. I do think the governor has been brave against the people who think that rates should go up with rising inflation.”
Meanwhile, David Sheppard, managing director of Perception Finance in London, said: “The interest rate will remain unchanged although it will be interesting to see what Broadbent will do. I think we may well continue to see a six to three split, with inflation rising one more person could jump making it five to four but I don’t expect to see rates rise till the last quarter.”
