Reeves pledges ‘more pounds in people’s pockets’ after warnings of tough choices

Rachel Reeves will pledge to put “more pounds in people’s pockets”, fix the NHS and grow the economy in Labour’s first Budget, despite warnings of tough decisions to come.

The Chancellor, the first woman to hold the role, will say there are “no short cuts” to driving the economic growth Labour has promised to deliver other than to invest.

In her speech, Ms Reeves is expected to say the “prize on offer” for Labour’s plans is “immense”, and will lay out new funding to cut hospital waiting lists, pave the way for more affordable homes and rebuild crumbling schools.

She has warned that the tax hikes and borrowing increases she is considering may not be enough to undo “14 years of damage” to the NHS, despite plans to pump billions of pounds into the health service.

Minimum wage

A hike in the minimum wage to £12.21 an hour is among the measures included, and Labour has also promised not to increase the headline taxes on the pay cheques of “working people”: national insurance, VAT and income tax.

Alongside its Budget analysis, fiscal watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) will publish a report on the Conservatives’ legacy in government, which is expected to account for the so-called £22 billion “black hole” in the public finances.

‘Belief’

Despite warnings from ministers that the Budget will include tough decisions on tax rises and spending cuts, Ms Reeves is expected to say: “My belief in Britain burns brighter than ever. And the prize on offer to today is immense.”

She will add: “More pounds in people’s pockets. An NHS that is there when you need it. An economy that is growing, creating wealth and opportunity for all. Because that is the only way to improve living standards.

“And the only way to drive economic growth is to invest, invest, invest. There are no short cuts. To deliver that investment we must restore economic stability.”

Harking back to the Labour governments of Attlee, Wilson and Blair, Ms Reeves will say it is “not the first time that it has fallen to the Labour Party to rebuild Britain”.

“Today, it falls to this Labour Party, this Labour Government, to rebuild Britain once again,” she will add.

On Tuesday, the Chancellor confirmed a 6.7% increase in the minimum wage, meaning it will rise to £12.21 an hour next year.

The increase, recommended by the Low Pay Commission, will mean an extra £1,400 a year for a full-time worker earning the main minimum wage rate, known as the national living wage, from April.

The Conservatives have continued to protest against the decision to limit the winter fuel allowance to all but the poorest pensioners.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride told the PA news agency that a petition calling on the Government to think again has “over a quarter of a million signatures”, adding “many” pensioners are going to “really, really struggle”.

Ms Reeves made the cut as part of a series of measures aimed at filling the reported £22 billion spending gap in the public finances.

Black hole

Shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt is contesting a report into the so-called black hole which is set to be released alongside the Budget.

He has written to the country’s top civil servant, Simon Case, claiming the OBR risks “straying into political territory and failing to follow due process” as it plans to publish the report on the impact of Tory spending.

The report follows Ms Reeves’ claims that she unearthed £22 billion of unfunded spending when Labour came to power.

On Tuesday morning while visiting a south London hospital, the Chancellor said the Budget would help to end “neglect” of the health service, amid plans to spend £1.5 billion on new surgical hubs and scanners and £70 million for radiotherapy machines.

But she warned that turning around public services would take time, saying: “I don’t think in one Budget you can undo 14 years of damage.”

As Labour grapples with the public finances, other measures reported to be under consideration include raising fuel duty and inheritance tax.

In the Commons, Ms Reeves also hinted at at a reform to business rates, “as well as a business tax road map”.