Chancellor says she’ll go ‘further and faster’ on growth plan
published at 13:35 Greenwich Mean Time
Faisal Islam
Economics editor
Rachel Reeves: Need to go further and faster to kickstart growth
The key line was the chancellor said the government will go “further and faster” on its growth plan.
She said market volatility was the “playing out” of ”global economic uncertainty”.
Reeves was defending both her trade visit to China and her Budget.
She restated her commitment to her self-imposed fiscal rules, which could lead to the need for extra cuts in forecast spending within the next few weeks.
But the chancellor seemed aware that she needed to convey a more detailed and convincing plan for growth, and with more urgency.
This will now be a key priority next week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, and there will be a speech on growth, ahead of the new forecast by the Office for Budget Obligation in March. The markets will be looking for detail, on infrastructure, trade and industry.
Mel Stride appeared via an elaborate Shakespeare analogy to vaguely call for the chancellor to consider her position.
“To go or not to go, that is a question,” he said. she does not appear to be going anywhere.
