Give kids best chance

Labour must tackle child poverty and boost NHS and jobs in Budget

- Jonathan Ashworth

My message to Keir Starmer’s top team: put children, decent jobs and the NHS central to your Budget next week.

When Chancellor Rachel Reeves presents her second Labour Budget we all expect her to raise some taxes.

In a perfect world, she wouldn't want more tax rises. But we don't live in a perfect world.

To stabilise the public finances, helping mortgage rates float down, invest in the economy and transform the NHS, tough decisions on tax will have to be taken

The truth is, years of Tory austerity, a mishandled Brexit and the recklessness of Liz Truss hammered the economy leaving families worse off.

Labour ministers have no option but to clear up that lingering Tory mess. But I know people are yearning to hear a compelling story about our country’s future with bold, urgent action from Labour ministers, too