Starmer leads fightback as budget row rumbles on for Reeves

"The political fates of Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are intertwined. Allies say that if one goes, the other is likely to follow. This is why, in the wake of the budget, the Conservatives have attempted to focus their response on the chancellor's personal ethics, accusing Reeves of lying about the rationale behind her record-breaking tax rises. And it is also why, in response, Starmer has chosen to fight back personally."

"At the budget last week, we made the right choices for Britain, cutting the cost of energy with 150 off bills, protecting the NHS and tackling the scourge of child poverty by removing the two-child limit. Seeking to buy himself and his chancellor political breathing space, he will argue on Monday that his programme which includes welfare reform and deregulation is a big, bold long-term plan and not a set of quick fixes."

Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves have linked political fates, with allies warning that the downfall of one could trigger the other's exit. Conservatives have targeted the chancellor's personal ethics, accusing Reeves of lying about the rationale for record-breaking tax rises and of using downgraded OBR productivity forecasts as a smokescreen. Starmer has responded personally and intends to refocus attention on the government's wider economic plan. The budget is presented as cutting energy costs by £150, protecting the NHS, and removing the two-child limit to tackle child poverty. The programme includes welfare reform and deregulation as a big, bold long-term plan. The OBR upgraded wage and tax receipts forecasts, producing a surplus.

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