Guido hears there was drama in Cabinet this morning over the Chancellor’s landmark growth speech in Oxford tomorrow. Starmer and Reeves were blatant in their well-publicised breakfast with business chiefs this morning. “Should we do X? If it’s good for growth, good for wealth creation, the answer is ‘yes’, if it’s not then the answer is ‘no’”…
Chris Wormald will have to implement the “growth test” across departments and push ministers to ditch policies that fail it. Surely the Budget should be the first to go in that case…
According to sources the contents of Reeves’ growth plan briefing document was changed at the last minute prior to her 9.30 a.m. Cabinet sign-off meeting. The new briefing was not circulated in the normal way and readable documents were stored on secure devices which were not allowed to leave the room. Blindsiding opponents and watering up…
The primary change from tomorrow is to process – with a concerted push on as many growth projects at the same time. Guido is told there are few untrailed headline-grabbing growth projects apart from on flights – Reeves is said to have upgraded her support for airport expansion. Some in SW1 expected the government’s support to be limited…
Reeves’ Cabinet enemies (led by Miliband) are on the back foot. Co-conspirators should not underestimate their ability to weaponise Whitehall against growth…
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood introduced her speech on migration reforms at the IPPR:
“There’s no denying we meet at a difficult time for my party.”