𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Rachel Reeves said growth was her “number one mission”. She has failed. New GDP figures show that the economy continues to flatline, cementing her legacy as one of the most ineffectual chancellors the country has ever seen. The grim data also re-confirms why she will follow Keir Starmer out of Downing Street when Andy Burnham takes over on Monday. Two years of higher taxes have choked the economy.

But Mr Burnham has signalled he wants even more taxes to pay for more benefits. Sir Keir and Ms Reeves may be on their way out the door, but the problem hasn’t gone away, and it may well get worse. Whoever the new Labour leader chooses as his chancellor, they will face a Herculean task to turn the nation’s economic fortunes around.