Skip to main content
Donate to the Fighting Fund
The Budget: Reeves dodges tough calls to calm City
‘Labour’s plans to spend more on the NHS, schools and housing welcome. But budget falls far short of what a real government for workers should do’
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves leaves 11 Downing Street, London, with her ministerial red box and the Treasury team before delivering her Budget in the Houses of Parliament, October 30, 2024

RACHEL REEVES ducked difficult decisions today but calmed Labour MPs in a Budget aimed above all at appeasing the City.

The statement, the first ever to be presented by a female chancellor, relied heavily on manipulating debt rules but appeared enough to stabilise a government enduring a catastrophic fall in public approval.

She won the loudest back-bench cheers for a commitment to put over £22 billion into the NHS for day-to-day spending, with more for rebuilding hospitals on top.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Protesters show placards as Chancellor Rachel Reeves is abou
Features / 29 March 2025
29 March 2025
While slashing welfare and public services, Labour’s spring statement delivers a bonanza for death-dealing bomb merchants. We now see the true and terrible face of austerity 2.0, writes MICHAEL BURKE
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves attending the Make
Britain / 5 March 2025
5 March 2025