‘Laughable’ for Rachel Reeves to claim she didn’t know true state of the public finances
It is “laughable” for Rachel Reeves to claim she didn’t know the full state of the public finances until she took office, Ruth Davidson has said.
Speaking on Beth Rigby’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the former leader of the Scottish Conservatives accused the new chancellor of trying to “build a political narrative” in order to justify her economic plans.
Ms Reeves is expected to announce tax rises and spending cuts when she unveils her first budget in October.
She has accused the previous Conservative government of “covering up” the true state of the nation’s finances, leaving a £22bn spending hole in their wake.
But Ms Davidson said the idea Ms Reeves didn’t know what the finances are is “completely, laughably wrong”.
“You don’t get into the very guts of the figures until you’re really into the departmental small print, so you do have to be in government to properly see all of the engine,” she said.
“However, the idea that she added [some things] into that total that made this £22bn pound black hole… is nonsense.
“If you paid attention during the election campaign, almost all of the questions to anybody even vaguely related to the Treasury or to the leadership was about how are you going to afford to do this because ‘x x x’.
“So we did know about it. There’s also institutions in place to tell you about it.”
Ms Reeves always said during the election that should Labour win, they would inherit the worst economic legacy since the Second World War and “iron discipline” would be required to balance the books.
Rachel Reeves Pic: Reuters
Since taking office she has said things are even more dismal than she had expected, and that the Tories made spending commitments but failed to allocate the money to fund them.
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Her predecessor Jeremy Hunt has denied that is the case and accused Ms Reeves of using the £22bn “black hole” as a smokescreen to justify tax hikes and spending cuts she was always planning.
Labour ruled out increasing major taxes in their manifesto – such as NI, VAT and Income Tax – but reports suggest Ms Reeves could hike Inheritance Tax or Capital Gains Tax in what is expected to be a “grim” October budget.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) has said that Ms Reeves is being disingenuous – but “no one comes out smelling like roses”.
The Conservatives did leave a lot for the new government to clear up, according to director Paul Johnson, and “were not always honest” about the challenges ahead.
But he concluded: “The chancellor cannot honestly announce a series of tax rises in her October budget, blame them on this hole that she has just discovered, and claim that she couldn’t have known pre-election that tax rises would be needed to maintain public services. That fact was obvious to all who cared to look.”
A mother-of-four was among two skydivers who died following a “tragic accident” at an airfield in Devon.
Belinda Taylor was pronounced dead at the scene following Friday afternoon’s incident in the area of Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton.
On Facebook, her partner Scott Armstrong wrote: “I miss you so much, you were my best friend.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me, from making my children feel at home to putting up with my mess.
“… there’s just so much that I don’t have the words to express it.
“I feel so lost. I don’t know where home is without you.”
Dunkeswell Aerodrome near Honiton, Devon. Pic: Google Street View
Ms Taylor’s eldest son, Connor Bowles, paid tribute to a “selfless woman” who was also a grandmother to two young children.
Thanking investigators for their work so far, he told DevonLive: “She will be deeply missed and will leave an everlasting impression on all those she has met in life.”
The identity of the second skydiver who died is yet to be made public, but their family has been informed.
British Skydiving has confirmed it will be investigating the incident – with a report sent to the coroner, the Civil Aviation Authority and the police.
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In a statement, SkydiveBuzz, which operates at the airfield, said its “deepest condolences go out to the families, friends and everyone affected by this devastating event”.
A spokesperson added: “Safety is, and always has been, our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the investigation and continue to uphold the highest possible standards in everything we do.
“No further details will be provided at this time. We respectfully ask for privacy for all those affected, including our team, during this incredibly difficult time.”
Career spy Blaise Metreweli will become the first woman to head MI6 in a “historic appointment”, the prime minister has announced.
She will take over from Sir Richard Moore as the 18th Chief, also known as “C”, when he steps down in the autumn.
“The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital,” Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement released on Sunday night.
“The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale – be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services.”
Of the other main spy agencies, GCHQ is also under female command for the first time.
Anne Keast-Butler took on the role in 2023, while MI5 has previously twice been led by a woman.
Until now, a female spy chief had only headed MI6 – also known as the Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) – in the James Bond movies.
Blaise Metreweli is the first woman to be named head of MI6. Pic: Reuters
Dame Judi Dench held the fictional role – called “M” in the films instead of “C” – between 1995 and 2015.
Ms Metreweli currently serves as “Q”, one of four director generals inside MI6.
The position – also made famous by the James Bond films, with the fictional “Q” producing an array of spy gadgets – means she is responsible for technology and innovation.
Ms Metreweli, a Cambridge graduate, joined MI6 in 1999.
Unlike the outgoing chief, who spent some of his service as a regular diplomat in the foreign office, including as ambassador to Turkey, she has spent her entire career as an intelligence officer.
Much of that time was dedicated to operational roles in the Middle East and Europe.
Ms Metreweli, who is highly regarded by colleagues, also worked as a director at MI5.
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In a statement, she said she was “proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service”.
“MI6 plays a vital role – with MI5 and GCHQ – in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.”
Sir Richard said: “Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.”
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