Weapons vs welfare: Rachel Reeves spring statement

武器与福利:雷切尔·里夫斯春季声明

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2025-03-27

24 分钟
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Labour was gambling on growth, but with stubbornly gloomy forecasts can they cut their way out of an economic hole? Peter Walker reports. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus
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  • This is the Guardian.

  • Today, can Rachel Reeves cut her way out of a flatlining economy?

  • Keir Starmer has said it time and again,

  • economic growth is the number one mission of his Labour government.

  • I'm determined to do everything in my power to galvanize growth,

  • determined for this country to be the highest growing economy in the G7.

  • Things are not quite working out as he'd hoped.

  • Yesterday, the UK's growth forecast was halved,

  • with the cost of living set to rise at an even faster and even more painful pace than expected.

  • Delivering her spring statement yesterday, the Chancellor knew who to blame.

  • The Tories, naturally, because the British people.

  • Have seen what happens when a government borrows beyond their means.

  • The mini budget, the mini budget delivered.

  • By the party, the war in Ukraine.

  • The threat facing our continent was transformed when Putin invaded Ukraine.

  • And though she didn't name him, Donald Trump and his unpredictable approach to tariffs.

  • At the same time, the global economy has become more uncertain,

  • bringing insecurity at home as trading patterns become more unstable.

  • Instead of raising taxes,

  • she's opted to increase defence spending while cutting from welfare and the Civil Service,