Rachel Reeves claimed Britain’s economy is better than the Tories and Nigel Farage would have us believe, but admitted ‘harsh global headwinds’ were making her job harder
Rachel Reeves has urged voters to ignore the naysayers as she said Britain’s economy is in a better state than Reform and the Tories would claim.
In her keynote speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool the Chancellor had scathing words about Nigel Farage. She admitted that “harsh global headwinds” had made her job more difficult.
Ms Reeves was forced to pause her speech after being interrupted by a heckler, who shouted about genocide and mass starvation in Gaza. She announced groundbreaking new plans to support teens into work and pledged to make sure every primary school has a library.
Here we look at some of the key things we learned.
READ MORE: Rachel Reeves heckled by pro-Palestine protester as she delivers key Labour conference speechREAD MORE: Labour peer who escaped Nazis as a child makes powerful Gaza ‘splitting up families’ plea
Danger of Nigel Farage
Nigel Farage’s agenda is the “single greatest threat” to livelihoods, the Chancellor told delegates.
She said: “The single greatest threat to our way of life and to the living standards of working people is the agenda of Nigel Farage and the Reform party. Whatever falsehoods they push, whatever easy answers they peddle, however willing they are to tear communities and families apart, they are not on the side of working people.”
“This is a fight that we must win, and it is a fight that we will win,” she added.
Chancellor berated by heckler
Ms Reeves was forced to pause her keynote speech after being berated by a pro-Palestine protester. The Chancellor stopped speaking as the man shouted from the audience. The man could be heard on live TV shouting: “Two years of genocide, mass starvation of Palestinian people.”
Ms Reeves responded: “We welcome your cause and we are recognising a Palestinian state.” She continued: “We are now a party in Government not a party of protest.”
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Allusion to Trump mayhem
The Chancellor alluded to the ecomomic chaos Donald Trump has unleashed on the UK.
Ms Reeves referenced “harsh global headwinds” that have made her job harder. The Chancellor said she will “not take risks with the trust placed in us by the British people”. She stated: “In the months ahead, we will face further tests, with the choices to come made all the harder by harsh global headwinds and the long-term damage done to our economy, which is becoming ever clearer.”
Speaking to the BBC earlier today she said: “I think everyone can see in the last year that the world has changed, and we’re not immune to that change.
“Whether it is wars in Europe and the Middle East, whether it is increased barriers to trade because of tariffs coming from the United States, whether it is the global cost of borrowing, we’re not immune to any of those things.”
Groundbreaking new Youth Guarantee
Ms Reeves announced plans for paid work for unemployed young people as part of a new Youth Guarantee – along with the threat of benefits sanctions for those who turn it down.
Ms Reeves will dangle the carrot of paid work to young people on Universal Credit who has been out of work and education for 18 months.
But the stick is that those who turn down the scheme could lose their benefits. It comes as the government is fighting to get more young people into work, with one in eight aged 16-24 currently not in education, work or training.
The Chancellor said: “Every young person will be guaranteed either a place in a college, for those who want to continue their studies, or an apprenticeship, to help them learn a trade vital to our plans to rebuild the country, or one-to-one support to find a job.”
Libraries in every primary school
The Chancellor promised to introduced libraries in every primary school.
She said: “Today in England there are 1,700 primary schools without a school library. That’s not right, and I will not let it stand. So I am committing here today to providing a library in every single primary school in England by the end of this Parliament.
“That’s a statement of our values.”
Veiled swipe at Andy Burnham
Everyone’s been talking about Andy Burnham this conference, and Ms Reeves found time for thinly-veiled swipe at the Greater Manchester Mayor.
Last week he suggested a 50p top rate of income tax and a tax cut for lower earners, as well an end to reliance on overseas lending. Ms Reeves said: “There are still people who peddle the idea that we can cast off restraints on spending. They’re wrong – dangerously so.”
Northern Powerhouse Rail will go ahead
The Chancellor said the Government would will “push ahead with our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail”.
The long-promised project will link towns and cities across northern England. Labour mayors Andy Burnham and Steve Rotherham – who represent Greater Manchester and Liverpool City – have set out a business case for the link between the two cities.
Ms Reeves said: As well as the TransPennine Route Upgrade, to link Manchester, Leeds, York and the towns between them, this Labour government will push ahead with our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail. Plans never delivered by the Conservatives, plans opposed by Reform, but backed by Labour.”
Economy isn’t as bad as some claim
The Chancellor said she “fundamentally” rejects the Conservative and Reform UK claims that the economy is broken.
She told the conference: “The Conservatives and Reform they want you to believe that our economy is broken, that our best days lie behind us, the decline is inevitable.
“I fundamentally reject that. It’s not the country I see around me, not the future that I believe in. I know that things are still difficult, bills are too high, getting ahead can feel tough, and there are still too many obstacles in the way for businesses.
“And so, our central economic objective is to change that. Growth to improve living standards is a challenge, and investment is a solution. By overhauling our planning system, reforming our pension system, launching Britain’s very first national wealth fund and a modern industrial strategy, and signing new trade deals to back our manufacturers and our exporters with India, with the United States and with our closest neighbours and allies in Europe.”
Covid hit squad
A new hit squad will hunt down Covid fraudsters who ripped off the taxpayer, Rachel Reeves has announced.
The Chancellor will launch an investigations team armed with new powers to issue huge fines to those who defrauded the state during the pandemic.
The unit will have the power to fine offenders 100% of the value of the money they owe on all Covid schemes, including Eat Out to Help Out and bounce-back loans.
It will also be able to block fraudulent claimants from becoming company directors and put them forward for criminal investigation.
Ms Reeves blasted the Tories for presiding over a carnival of fraud.
Call for Labour to have faith
Ms Reeves urged party members to “have faith” because Labour and Britain “have overcome greater challenges than these”.
The Chancellor told the conference: “Whatever challenges come our way don’t be deterred, because I can see the destination if we stay true to our course, a Britain where every child can flourish, no matter their background or their parents’ jobs or where they grow up – and never let anyone tell you that there’s no difference between a Labour government and a Conservative government.”
She added: “There is further to go, but whatever tests confront us, have faith because our party and our country have overcome greater challenges than these.
“Have faith because the opportunity to serve is what we came into this for. Have faith, knowing that this Labour Government will not rest, I will not rest, until our patriotic cause is realised in a Britain that prizes contribution, that unlocks opportunity, that silences the nagging voices of decline.
“Never let anyone tell you that there’s no difference between a Labour government and a Conservative government.”
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