Budget Resolutions

Rachel Blake Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Commons Chamber

[Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) (Lab/Co-op)]

I know that it is unconventional to crowdsource one’s speech on the Budget, but I happened to do my annual online Budget Q&A last night, and it was an absolutely joyful experience. The key themes that were raised with me were: is this Budget bold enough; and what does it do for our communities here in the Cities of London and Westminster? Members will be delighted and perhaps unsurprised to know that the key questions raised by my constituents are very similar to those that are being raised here in the Chamber.

It is really clear to me, as it is to my constituents, that this Government cannot control every challenge beyond our shores, but we can seek stability, strengthen our resilience and support those most in need. The foundations for a more stable economy were established by my right hon. Friend the Member for Leeds West and Pudsey (Rachel Reeves) when she made the tough choices to stabilise our economy. What we need now is for families to have confidence that they can plan for the future. Businesses need confidence to invest, expand and create jobs, and our economy needs confidence that public finances are being managed responsibly. That is why this Government’s commitment to fiscal discipline and credible fiscal rules is so important.

Economic credibility is not an abstract concept discussed only in this Chamber in Westminster; it affects mortgage rates, investment decisions, business confidence, household budgets and, increasingly, whether people can afford to own a home of their own. That is in stark contrast to the damaging effects of the mini-Budget that the Conservatives want us to forget, but we very much remember it and, sadly, our constituents remember it through their day-to-day budgets. This Government rightly take a responsible approach, and I particularly welcome those measures that are supporting enterprise, investment and job creation. My constituency, the Cities of London and Westminster, has more jobs than people in it, and every day we see the contribution that businesses make to our economy, from small independent firms to globally recognised companies.

Economic security must also include housing security. Far too many people, particularly in London, cannot afford a home of their own. What was particularly important to me in this Budget was the announcement of £432 million of additional investment to stabilise support for the most vulnerable. It was an absolute honour to welcome the Prime Minister and the Chancellor to my constituency on Monday, where we recognised the long-standing work of frontline rough sleeping outreach workers. This was a long-standing call from those who work in the sector to recognise the skilled work they do every single day to help the most vulnerable. I am proud that this Government have made the decision to make long-term investment to keep people off the streets. Not only is it the right decision and the compassionate decision—

[Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con)]

Will the hon. Member give way?

--- Later in debate ---

[Rachel Blake]

I will not give way—we will hopefully move to a vote soon.

This is the right moral decision and the right compassionate decision. It aligns with our values—it should align with everybody’s values—and it is also the right economic decision. It is not in the interests of public spending to allow people to live on the streets. I pay tribute to the work of the Connection at St Martin’s, which hosted us that day.

We have seen the risks that the Opposition are prepared to take with our economy. This Government are taking a responsible approach, which enables us to make those investments in some of the most vulnerable in society. I commend this Budget to the House, and I commend this responsible approach to fiscal discipline, which allows us to make those important political choices.

Oral Answers to Questions

Rachel Blake Excerpts

Thursday 29th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Chris Bryant]

Maybe you will be taking his wife to the Coach & Horses, Mr Speaker—who knows?

On a serious point, we are fully aware of the problems that pubs and live music venues have been facing for a considerable period of time. For live music venues, we have been trying to encourage arena tickets to put an extra £1 on the ticket, on a voluntary basis, so as to be able to support live music venues. I am conscious that over the years many pubs have closed. The hon. Gentleman was not in the House under the previous Administration, but some 7,000 pubs closed in those 14 years, which is something like one every 14 hours. We are conscious of the problems, and we want to do everything we can to help.

[Rachel Blake (Cities of London and Westminster) (Lab/Co-op)]

3. What steps he is taking to increase trade with the European Union.

[The Minister of State, Department for Business and Trade (Chris Bryant)]

Some 46% of the UK’s trade is with the EU, but we want to do far better, achieving trade with the EU that is as frictionless as possible. We are in the process of fine tuning the deal that we reached last year on food and drink, and negotiating on joining the single electricity market. We want to improve business mobility and secure the mutual recognition of professional qualifications. We have just appointed three new trade envoys—one for France, one for Germany and one for Italy—as part of our exports drive.

[Rachel Blake]

I listened carefully to the Minister’s response and am encouraged by the progress that is being made. When does he expect the UK-EU summit to take place? Is he expecting a completion of the negotiations on a sanitary and phytosanitary agreement and the youth experience scheme? Will he also update us on the approach to touring artists, to help ensure that they can access EU markets? That would make such a difference to the thriving cultural scene in the west end.

[Chris Bryant]

On touring artists, we are absolutely determined to secure that—not least because I have personally promised Elton John that we will, as has the Prime Minister. [Interruption.] I see the right hon. Member for The Wrekin (Mark Pritchard) chuntering. I think he is bidding to be a trade envoy for some country. If he would like to come and talk to me later, we can have a discussion about it.

The truth of the matter is that we had a terrible deal with the European Union. We need to improve it, and we are working at pace to try and deliver that. I want British businesses to be able to export without friction into the European market, because we know that is good for them.