Starmer leads fightback as budget row rumbles on for Reeves

Starmer Stepping Up as Budget Fallout Continues for Reeves.

Labour leader Keir Starmer has set his sights on shifting the focus away from Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget and onto the government's overall economic strategy. In an attempt to distance himself and his finance minister from the controversy surrounding the chancellor, Starmer plans to deliver a speech on Monday that seeks to refocus attention on the government's long-term goals.

At the center of this effort is the Labour party's plan for economic reform, which includes welfare changes and deregulation. The prime minister has emphasized that this program represents a "big, bold long-term plan" rather than a set of quick fixes.

The chancellor's office is facing intense scrutiny over its handling of tax policy, with accusations emerging from the Conservatives that Rachel Reeves misled the public about the true motivations behind her decision to raise taxes.

Critics argue that Reeves used reduced productivity forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) as a smokescreen for tax hikes. The OBR has downgraded its predictions on productivity but upgraded its forecasts for wages and tax receipts, ultimately leaving Reeves with a surplus rather than a deficit.

Reeves' allies claim she needed to increase taxes to boost her buffer against unexpected costs and protect government borrowing costs. However, the public remains skeptical about the chancellor's ability to manage the economy, with polling showing just 16% of voters believe she is doing a good job – a sentiment that has not changed significantly since before the budget.

As the row over Reeves' tax policy continues, Starmer is banking on voters eventually feeling the impact of Labour's long-term economic reforms. With many Britons still waiting for their daily lives to improve, time may be a luxury he does not have.

ugh, this is getting ridiculous! starmer is trying to pivot from his own finance mess but it's gonna be hard for him to shake off the controversy surrounding reeves' budget and now everyone's on his case too i mean, can't they just focus on the facts for once? like, starmer's got a long-term plan and all that jazz, but how is anyone supposed to trust it when there are still so many unanswered questions about reeves' tax policy? and what's with 16% of voters saying reeves is doing a good job? seems like the public's just not getting the info they need to make an informed decision

so starmer's trying to shift focus from reeves' budget mess ... and now it's all about labour's big long-term plan . sounds like starmer wants to move away from the controversy & onto something more promising . but, gotta ask, what makes ppl think labour's reform will be any better? they're still using the same old policies, just with a new spin . and let's be real, the public is still super skeptical of reeves' handling of the economy ... it's like, can't we all just agree on something that'll actually make our lives better?

omg, can't believe reeves is getting roasted over those tax hikes like, isn't it obvious she was trying to plug the gap in government finances? and starmer's got his sights on shifting the focus away from all this drama because let's be real, voters aren't buying it . anyone thinking labour's long-term plan is gonna make a difference before the next election just needs to take a chill pill . meanwhile, i'm still waiting for my wages to catch up with inflation

I'm so done with this budget drama . Like, I get it, Rachel Reeves is trying to make some changes and all that jazz, but can't she just give us a straight answer for once? She's got her team saying she needs more wiggle room in case of unexpected costs, but what about the rest of us who are struggling to make ends meet?

And don't even get me started on Starmer trying to shift the focus away from Reeves. Like, if he's gonna do something, can't it be something actually helpful instead of just throwing a bunch of buzzwords around? I mean, Labour's plan for economic reform sounds good and all, but what about the actual details?

I'm not saying Reeves is doing a bad job or anything, but at this point, I think it's safe to say that most people are just fed up with all these excuses . Maybe Starmer should take a cue from the OBR and give us some real numbers instead of smoke and mirrors?

I'm kinda surprised that Starmer is trying to shift the focus away from Reeves' budget. It feels like he's just trying to deflect attention from his own team's mistakes. But at the same time, I get it. The chancellor's office is getting roasted by the Tories and it's not doing him any favors. Rachel Reeves needs a reprieve, you know? But what's concerning me is that voters are still super skeptical about her economic management skills. It's like, what's Labour gonna do to make things better for the average person? They've got this long-term plan, but when does it kick in? And how much time will Starmer have left before he has to show some real results? The pressure is on!

I'm curious how this whole thing gonna play out. I mean, Starmer trying to shift focus from Reeves' budget is like trying to outrun a speeding train . It's only gonna get more intense as the public gets more and more fed up with the government's handling of taxes. 16% of voters think Reeves is doing a good job? That's gotta be a pretty rough number . I'm not sure if Starmer's long-term economic reforms will have any real impact before the next election, but at this point he might as well try anything .