Reeves accused, OBR chair resigns
3m
UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves was accused of overstating fiscal damage to justify tax rises after an inquiry into her budget led the OBR chair to resign, a claim critics disputed.
Reposted by Will Jennings, Steve Peers
Did Rachel Reeves and the Government “mislead” people about the state of the public finances and the need for tax rises before the Budget?
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
December 1, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Did Rachel Reeves and the Government “mislead” people about the state of the public finances and the need for tax rises before the Budget?
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
I think this is a rather complex question & the answer is not black and white.
A thread…🧵1/12
Reposted by Will Jennings, Ben H. Ansell
Rachel Reeves's "headroom" is based on:
-£16bn in 'efficiency savings'
-£6bn in savings in order to fund taking SEND off local government backs
-tax rises that largely come in at the end of the forecast
-immigration being at c340k net in 2029!
-£16bn in 'efficiency savings'
-£6bn in savings in order to fund taking SEND off local government backs
-tax rises that largely come in at the end of the forecast
-immigration being at c340k net in 2029!
Suggestion Rachel Reeves exaggerated fiscal pressures is absurd
Chancellor was instead far too optimistic about public finances and government’s ability to secure cuts
www.ft.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Rachel Reeves's "headroom" is based on:
-£16bn in 'efficiency savings'
-£6bn in savings in order to fund taking SEND off local government backs
-tax rises that largely come in at the end of the forecast
-immigration being at c340k net in 2029!
-£16bn in 'efficiency savings'
-£6bn in savings in order to fund taking SEND off local government backs
-tax rises that largely come in at the end of the forecast
-immigration being at c340k net in 2029!
I've been extremely critical of Labour's comms lately, but this is much better from Starmer. It's critical that he now should relentlessly hammer this same message away for the next two years... it is the only way that voters will start to hear it.
There are those on the left and right who offer only grievance: Labour is getting on with the job of economic renewal | Keir Starmer
Judge last week’s budget in the light of our bold plans to sweep away red tape, tackle inactivity among young people and pursue a closer trading relationship with the EU, says prime minister Keir Star...
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 12:28 AM
I've been extremely critical of Labour's comms lately, but this is much better from Starmer. It's critical that he now should relentlessly hammer this same message away for the next two years... it is the only way that voters will start to hear it.
by Prem Sikka
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer says.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Keir Starmer says
Exclusive: PM hits back at critics as he insists Rachel Reeves right to impose £26bn worth of tax rises at budget
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Labour’s economic plan will take years to deliver, Starmer says.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
Made difficult by poor policies.
Could have
Aligned taxation of dividends and capital gains with wages, lift personal allowance.
Nationalised energy/water, end profiteering, cut inflation, reduce business and household costs.
This is also Labour hoist with its own petard: Sunak in the 1st TV debate of 2024 majored on tax rises; Labour decided the best way to counter that attack was not detailed rebuttal but shouting 'lies'. As long as 'lies' & 'Reeves' are in the headlines for a few days, that's job done for the Tories.
December 1, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This is also Labour hoist with its own petard: Sunak in the 1st TV debate of 2024 majored on tax rises; Labour decided the best way to counter that attack was not detailed rebuttal but shouting 'lies'. As long as 'lies' & 'Reeves' are in the headlines for a few days, that's job done for the Tories.
by Gerry Hassan
So much of British politics is at its core not really serious. Kemi Badenoch is permanently indignant at the Labour Govt. This time for Rachel Reeves having the affront to keep from us that the British economy & finances are in a better state than anyone previously thought.
I'm really not sure the Conservatives have thought this through. thecritic.co.uk/gove...
December 1, 2025 at 6:29 PM
So much of British politics is at its core not really serious. Kemi Badenoch is permanently indignant at the Labour Govt. This time for Rachel Reeves having the affront to keep from us that the British economy & finances are in a better state than anyone previously thought.
by Glen O’Hara
I've gone back and read the pre-Budget shaping speech, and nowhere does Reeves talk about the 29/30 fiscal balance apart from re: savings - the terms are much more neutral and general. Off-camera briefings may have been different, but I can't see a mislead. (2/2) www.gov.uk/government/s...
Chancellors Scene Setter speech ahead of Budget 2025
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves delivered her scene setter speech on Tuesday 4 November 2025.
www.gov.uk
December 1, 2025 at 11:30 AM
I've gone back and read the pre-Budget shaping speech, and nowhere does Reeves talk about the 29/30 fiscal balance apart from re: savings - the terms are much more neutral and general. Off-camera briefings may have been different, but I can't see a mislead. (2/2) www.gov.uk/government/s...
Reposted by Andrew Scott, Mark Priestley, Leigh Sparks
For all the focus on its supposed “left wing bias”, the BBC’s heavy coverage of Rachel Reeves Budget "lies" shows how its political coverage is still largely led by the right-wing press
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
Rachel Reeves and the Daily Mailification of the BBC
For all the focus on its supposed "left wing bias", the BBC's heavy coverage of Conservative allegations of dishonesty against Rachel Reeves shows how its political coverage is still largely led by th...
bylinetimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 11:20 AM
For all the focus on its supposed “left wing bias”, the BBC’s heavy coverage of Rachel Reeves Budget "lies" shows how its political coverage is still largely led by the right-wing press
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
bylinetimes.com/2025/12/01/r...
Reposted by Gary Sheffield
Labour have had to make some tough decisions in the first 12 months or so, but now we are starting to see why those decisions had to be made. Starmer,as always,is playing the long game and has a vision of where he wants the UK to be in 3 YEARS time not 3 WEEKS, which is what many think is possible.
December 1, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Labour have had to make some tough decisions in the first 12 months or so, but now we are starting to see why those decisions had to be made. Starmer,as always,is playing the long game and has a vision of where he wants the UK to be in 3 YEARS time not 3 WEEKS, which is what many think is possible.
by Glen O’Hara
Legitimate area for debate, but I don't agree at all with the interpretation put forward by Chris Mason here. IMHO two time horizons in play, and you have to concentrate to understand. OBR is clear on pp. 9-10 about substantial adverse pressures in next few years. (1/2) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Chris Mason: Why, in my judgement, Reeves was misleading on one specific point
The Chancellor chose not to share some information on tax receipts in an unusual press conference, given before the Budget.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 11:29 AM
Legitimate area for debate, but I don't agree at all with the interpretation put forward by Chris Mason here. IMHO two time horizons in play, and you have to concentrate to understand. OBR is clear on pp. 9-10 about substantial adverse pressures in next few years. (1/2) www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
With Karel Williams of Foundational Economy a call for a new way of doing things, starting with water ... www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
Labour's conformism is crushing Britain
Rachel Reeves is just the latest ambassador of a failed political elite
www.newstatesman.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:25 AM
With Karel Williams of Foundational Economy a call for a new way of doing things, starting with water ... www.newstatesman.com/politics/lab...
by Glen O’Hara
Fundamentally not a serious policymaking community or media. Sure, briefing was a problem. But we have problems both chronic and acute: we can and should be debating those. We won't. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...
Minister insists Rachel Reeves did not mislead public in Budget build-up
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been accused of over-stating the UK's financial problems in the build-up to the Budget - Darren Jones insists she did not lie.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 1, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Fundamentally not a serious policymaking community or media. Sure, briefing was a problem. But we have problems both chronic and acute: we can and should be debating those. We won't. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cl...
by Gerry Hassan
Ex-Brexit Party MEP Lucy Harris on #BBC #PoliticsLive. She describes the Rachel Reeves budget as "ideological" & Labour as "anti-democratic" & "anti-people." Obviously she does not think of Brexit & hard right-wing economics which she supports as "ideological."
December 1, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Ex-Brexit Party MEP Lucy Harris on #BBC #PoliticsLive. She describes the Rachel Reeves budget as "ideological" & Labour as "anti-democratic" & "anti-people." Obviously she does not think of Brexit & hard right-wing economics which she supports as "ideological."