蜜芽传媒

Rachel Reeves has squeezed the welfare budget further and boosted defence spending in a Spring Statement aimed at kick-starting the faltering economy. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - the government's financial watchdog - halved its growth forecast for this year to 1%. The chancellor blamed global instability, arguing that the world was 'changing before our eyes' and promising a 'new era of security and national renewal'. The OBR painted a more upbeat picture of subsequent years, predicting growth will be higher than expected thanks, in part, to more housebuilding. Writing in the Times, Reeves defended her handling of the economy, external, saying her plan was starting to 'bear fruit', with wages up and interest rates down. 'I won't shy away from the challenges we face, and change won't happen overnight,' Reeves added. 'But the prize on offer to us is immense.'

Rachel Reeves says the UK government鈥檚 plan is working. Stephen asks - do you agree?

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