Public Spending: Inheritance Debate

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Department: HM Treasury
Monday 29th July 2024

(3 months, 3 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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I thank my hon. Friend for the question. Everything in Labour’s manifesto was fully costed and fully funded. We now know that on top of the £22-billion black hole that the previous Government left, they made unfunded commitments during the election. That was deeply irresponsible and the country was right to reject them.

Peter Bedford Portrait Mr Peter Bedford (Mid Leicestershire) (Con)
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Does the Chancellor think that one of her first decisions to cancel infrastructure projects is consistent with her desire to grow the economy?

Rachel Reeves Portrait Rachel Reeves
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There is nothing pro-growth about making commitments that we cannot afford. There is nothing pro-growth about having £22 billion of unfunded commitments. We saw that when Liz Truss did her mini-Budget less than two years ago, and right hon. and hon. Opposition Members would do well to learn that lesson.