Rachel Reeves Vows to Strengthen Foundations of UK Economy

Rachel Reeves, the new UK Chancellor, has announced plans to boost economic growth by improving infrastructure and encouraging private investment. In her first speech to business leaders, she’ll emphasize that economic growth across the country is a top priority for the new Labour government.

The government has made several key announcements:

1. Changes to planning rules, including new housing targets and building on green belt land.
2. Talks to end junior doctors’ strikes, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting meeting union representatives.
3. Hiring a new border security commander to tackle immigration issues.
4. Expanding teacher recruitment efforts.
5. Guaranteeing military aid to Ukraine and increasing UK defense spending.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is visiting Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales to show his commitment to all parts of the UK. He plans to set up a council of nations and regions to improve cooperation between different areas and political parties.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will meet with English mayors to discuss plans for local growth and more regional power. The government is dropping the “levelling up” slogan and renaming the relevant department to “Housing, Communities and Local Government.”

Reeves argues that if the UK economy had grown at the average rate of other developed countries since 2010, it would be £140 billion larger. The government plans to change planning regulations to make it easier to build homes, including on green belt land, and will review national planning policies to simplify construction of homes, labs, and factories.

Other initiatives include:

• Creating a new border security team to fight organized immigration crime.
• Ruling out the introduction of digital ID cards for immigration control.
• Working to end junior doctors’ strikes and reform dental contracts.
• Improving relations with teachers and expanding recruitment efforts.

The new government emphasizes quick action and a focus on economic growth to improve living standards across the UK.

Re-reported from the article originally published in THE GUARDIAN.