What might have been regular churn looks a little like a spring clean in the Downing Street policy unit. Guido hears that Tom Webb – the No 10 policy SpAd responsible for health, science/tech and public sector issues – is also departing. Webb had been working for Labour for eight years and is well regarded. He’s departing along with infrastructure SpAd Nick Williams…
Webb, previously Director of Policy for Labour and heavily involved in writing the manifesto, also went in after the general election and is now departing as of last night. Some fingers are pointing at policy delivery and innovation director Liz Lloyd…
Andy Haldane, Burnham’s recent adviser on the economy who has not taken up a No10 job, told Andrew Marr on LBC:
“The market now suspects that this is a traditional tax-and-spend socialist government with better TikTok videos…
imposing windfall taxes on oil & gas or on banks or upping capital gains tax would […] repeat the mistake that Rachel made […] The Achilles heel, the fiscal Achilles heel of this government thus far has been its unwillingness and/or inability to cut public spending.”
