Chancellor Rachel Reeves today insisted Britain will not be returning to austerity after she was pressed on Labour ‘doom and gloom’ since sweeping to power.
Ms Reeves was also questioned about the freebies row engulfing the party after accepting clothes donations during the election campaign.
She took to the airwaves ahead of her speech from the Labour conference in Liverpool where she will deliver the party’s economic message to the country.
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Rachel Reeves admitted Labour’s freebies bonanza ‘looks a bit odd’ today as she tries to quell infighting at conference.
In a round of interviews, the Chancellor defended taking £7,500 worth of clothes from a donor during the election campaign. She also confirmed that she accepted free holiday accommodation in Cornwall valued at £1,400 for her family.
But she stressed that she will not be receiving free clothes in future, after a furious backlash at the host of gifts accepted by senior party figures including Keir Starmer.
‘We never had this problem in opposition!’: Labour delegates grumble at rain and queues
As if the pouring rain in Liverpool isn’t miserable enough, attendees at Labour’s conference have been moaning about the long security queues to enter the venue.
‘We never had this problem while in opposition!,’ quipped one delegate, as they joined a long line through a car park.
A mixture of party members, lobbyists, exhibitors and media were seen in the snake of people trying to get inside the conference centre.
There were wait times of at least half-an-hour before delegates were able to go through the airport-style security at each of the venue’s entrances.
It left some fretting as to whether they would be late for various events they were due to appear at.
Reeves – We won’t be returning to austerity
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said there will not be a return to austerity but that ‘detailed’ spending by department will be ‘negotiated’.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme this morning, Ms Reeves said:
There won’t be a return to austerity, there will be real terms increases to government spending in this Parliament.
She told the programme that she has been ‘really clear’ that the ‘only way to sustainably fund public services is through growing the economy.’
When pushed further on her spending plans, Ms Reeves added:
What I’m saying is there will not be real terms cuts to government spending, but the detailed department by department spending will be negotiated.
Rachel Reeves on the broadcast round: What did she say?
The Chancellor toured the broadcast studios this morning ahead of her midday speech at the Labour Party conference.
Let’s summarise the main talking points from her round of interviews:
Rachel Reeves said she does not think hospitality gifts ‘brings (her) into conflict in any way’ when it comes to decisions made at the Treasury
She defended her acceptance of £7,500 of clothing donations from friend Juliet Rosenfeld but conceded it looks ‘a bit odd’
Insisted a personal donation of £98,500 for her shadow office when she was in opposition was not for clothing or personal effects, but did say donations for clothes did help her while shadowing the Tories
She said a taxpayer-funded photographer was hired to support Angela Rayner’s department, not the Deputy Prime Minister herself as a politician, Ms Reeves insisted
Elsewhere, Ms Reeves said there will not be a return to austerity but that ‘detailed’ spending by department will be ‘negotiated’
The Chancellor insisted she had not “expected” to make changes to winter fuel payments but was forced to as a result of a ‘£22 billion black hole’
Labour Party conference: Who is speaking on Day 2?
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar are all expected on stage at the Labour conference today.
Here is a list of timings
9.30am – John Healey, Defence Secretary (pictured)
11:50am – Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary
12:00pm – Rachel Reeves – Chancellor
1.45pm Peter Kyle – Science Secretary
1.50pm Louise Haigh – Transport Secretary
2:50pm Ian Murray – Scotland Secretary
2:55pm Anas Sarwar – Scottish Labour leader
3pm Jo Stevens – Welsh Secretary
3:05pm Eluned Morgan – Welsh Labour leader
3:10pm Hilary Benn – Northern Ireland Secretary
3:15pm Steve Reed – Environment Secretary
3:25pm Ed Miliband – Climate Change and Net Zero Secretary
Good morning
Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage from the Labour conference in Liverpool.
The economy will be at the heart of the day on Merseyside.
At 12pm, Chancellor Rachel Reeves will deliver her speech about how the party plans to manage the public finances amid criticism over the decision to scrap the winter fuel allowance and a freebies row which threatens to engulf Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner.
Also on the agenda today are environment secretary Steve Reed, energy secretary Ed Miliband and Scottish labour leader Anas Sarwar.
Stick with us as we bring you developments throughout the day with our political reporters on the ground in Liverpool watching the action as it unfolds.
