In an apparent split with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Reeves dismissed the idea that remote work motivates employees, insisting that coming together in the office generates better ideas. She pointed to her own actions in the Treasury, saying, "We weren't doing it on Zoom... people coming together collaboratively promotes ideas."
While the chancellor warned of the need for tough decisions, she rejected calls for a bespoke wealth tax and remained firm in her refusal to reverse the controversial two-child benefit cap. She also pushed back on suggestions that Labour had been "talking down" the economy, arguing that businesses had "nothing to fear" from her pro-growth agenda, which aims to balance worker rights with economic development.
Reeves, who is tasked with addressing a £22 billion gap in public finances, dismissed any suggestion of short-term fixes. Instead, she focused on creating a long-term environment for investment, arguing that stability is key to economic growth.
Reeves also hinted that the October 30 budget would see additional funding for the NHS, as she addressed the challenge of reducing long waiting lists for healthcare services. However, she cautioned that there would be no magic wand for solving the public finances, and stressed the importance of being realistic about what the government could afford.
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