Labour’s Chancellor Rachel Reeves is “suddenly in a rush” and sounding more like a Conservative minister, according to BBC presenter Laura Kuenssberg.
Writing for BBC InDepth, Kuenssberg suggested Reeves has made a big shift in tone and policy focus in recent weeks, with plans that appear to align more closely with traditionally Tory ideas.
Kuenssberg suggested that Reeves has been pushing to “get rid of barriers to business,” ease restrictions on wealthy non-doms, and even approve new airport runways, such as at Heathrow.
She also pointed out that Reeves intends to cut back welfare spending and streamline planning rules – moves that Kuenssberg said bear little resemblance to the Labour Chancellor’s budget in October, which focused on raising taxes and increasing spending on public services.
Kuenssberg wrote: “Rachel Reeves is suddenly in a rush.
“She’d hate the comparison, but the way she’s been talking over recent weeks sounds more like a Conservative chancellor.”
Treasury insiders also told the BBC that Reeves has been under pressure to show Labour is serious about boosting the UK’s economy.
Following market jitters and warnings of a “doom loop,” Reeves has reportedly been vocal about the need for bold actions to drive growth.
A senior source in the Treasury described the situation to the BBC as a “sense of urgency,” saying Reeves’ push for major projects like Heathrow’s new runway is an attempt to respond to business demands.
The apparent shift has not gone unnoticed by some in the business community. Kuenssberg quoted one City insider who said: “Labour did a great job of pretending to be pro-business up until [the Budget]. No one would say they are now.”
However, critics within Labour and beyond have pointed out the contradictions in Reeves’ approach.
While Labour is pledging to remove some regulations to stimulate business, it is also planning major interventions, including giving workers more rights and establishing a state-owned green energy company.
Kuenssberg also stressed the broader challenges facing Reeves and the Labour government, including high taxes, big national debt, and sluggish growth.
Ministers are “scrambling to find places to squeeze their budgets,” she wrote, while Reeves attempts to convince voters that Labour has the answers to rebuild the UK economy.
In her upcoming speech on Wednesday, Reeves is expected to present a more optimistic outlook, stressing her commitment to creating jobs, boosting tax revenues, and restoring confidence among voters.
But Kuenssberg questioned whether these changes would resonate with those struggling with the rising cost of living.
As one former Labour minister told her: “How long will it take for changes to drip through the doorsteps of my constituency where people are living in crowded rented flats and can’t afford the supermarkets?”
The pressure on Reeves and the Labour government is mounting, with Kuenssberg concluding that this may be a “cross your fingers behind your back moment” for their economic strategy.