Labor Party doesn't 'strike back' as Starmer controls spending plans

Sir Keir Starmer with members of his shadow cabinet, who are said to recognize the need to limit government spending plans. Photo: Stéphane Rousseau/PA

Sir Keir Starmer advised his shadow cabinet ministers to limit a potential Labor government's spending plans due to the state of the economy.

Pat McFadden, Shadow Chief Secretary of the Treasury

Mr McFadden said no one in Sir Keir's top team «resisted or fought back» the instructions because «everyone recognizes» the need to be responsible for public finances.

Sir Keir repeatedly stated that the Labor government would not be able to spend the money, stating that he was preparing to inherit «a real mess» and «a very badly damaged economy» from the Tories. He pledged that the Labor Party will be a «responsible economy» party.

The Labor Party is trying to sell voters a fiscally conservative message ahead of the next general election, which will likely raise questions as to whether that will be enough. to win over swing voters.

«Responsibility needed»

Mr McFadden said on Wednesday morning that the Labor Party is not in favor of austerity, «but we want accountability.»

During an interview with Sky News, he said it looks like he and Ms Reeves will have to say a shadow to ministers who want to “spend, spend and spend more that they will have to hold back their plans,” Mr. McFadden replied: “We are already doing it.”

“I think this message came not only from Rachel Reeves and myself, but also from Keir Starmer, and to the credit of the shadow cabinet, I don’t think they are resisting or fighting back.

< p>“I think that everyone understands that accountability is needed in public finance, and this applies to the entire shadow cabinet, not just the shadow treasury team.”

«I don't think that we want austerity, but we want accountability.”

Shadow Chief Treasury Secretary @patmcfaddenmp and @JayneSeckerSky discuss the news that government borrowing was lower than expected in July. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 pic.twitter.com/cQQtb24s7d

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 23, 2023

The Labor Party has declined to elaborate on what its government spending plans will be. Sir Keir said the plans would be made public closer to the next election.

When asked how close they would be to the election, Mr. McFadden did not answer.

He replied: “Yes There are good reasons for this approach, since the Office of Budget Responsibility prepares a report twice a year in accordance with the budgeting process. This has a major impact on any chancellor's wiggle room.

«Frankly, if we were to draw up a budget now, it would be out of date by the next election, even if it's just

» So it makes sense to wait to see what the public finances will be like at the time of the election before clearing up spending plans, and in fact, waiting for this is a sign of our responsibility and rightly so.”