Public Spending: Inheritance
Debate between Rachel Reeves and Catherine Atkinson
Monday 29th July 2024
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(3 months, 1 week ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Rachel Reeves
My right hon. Friend the Work and Pensions Secretary is considering that report as we speak.
Catherine Atkinson (Derby North) (Lab)
For my constituents, this mess goes beyond money. It is about trust in politics. Does the Chancellor agree that the damage goes even deeper than the harm to our economy that she has set out?
Rachel Reeves
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Today’s revelations of a £22 billion in-year overspend come on top of partygate and the handing of contracts to friends and donors to the Conservative party during the pandemic. That dents public trust. I have come to the House today to be open and transparent about the state of the public finances and the action that I will take to sort out this mess.