Rachel Reeves has called on workers to return to the office, emphasising the benefits of in-person collaboration, as she prepares to lay out Labour’s economic vision at the party conference in Liverpool this week.
In a candid interview with The Times, the chancellor rejected the idea of remote working, stating that she leads by example and highlighting her experience of working late into the night at the Treasury after Labour’s election victory.
Reeves, who is tasked with addressing a £22 billion gap in public finances, dismissed any suggestion of short-term fixes. Instead, she focused on creating a long-term environment for investment, arguing that stability is key to economic growth. Her upcoming speech will outline Labour’s vision for a brighter future, despite the sacrifices set to be outlined in the forthcoming budget.
While the chancellor warned of the need for tough decisions, she rejected calls for a bespoke wealth tax and remained firm in her refusal to reverse the controversial two-child benefit cap. She also pushed back on suggestions that Labour had been “talking down” the economy, arguing that businesses had “nothing to fear” from her pro-growth agenda, which aims to balance worker rights with economic development.
Reeves also hinted that the October 30 budget would see additional funding for the NHS, as she addressed the challenge of reducing long waiting lists for healthcare services. However, she cautioned that there would be no magic wand for solving the public finances, and stressed the importance of being realistic about what the government could afford.
In an apparent split with Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Reeves dismissed the idea that remote work motivates employees, insisting that coming together in the office generates better ideas. She pointed to her own actions in the Treasury, saying, “We weren’t doing it on Zoom… people coming together collaboratively promotes ideas.”
As Labour approaches its first major party conference since taking power, Reeves is keen to focus on the future, despite ongoing rows over the prime minister and other senior figures accepting freebies and clothes from donors. Seeking to draw a line under these controversies, Reeves declared that she and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer would stop accepting such gifts.
The chancellor, who has no plans to introduce new taxes such as a wealth levy, is committed to restoring the country’s financial stability. This includes efforts to crack down on fraud and errors in the welfare system, which have cost the Treasury billions. Labour is also exploring ways to tackle long-term sickness, with Reeves citing that the UK is one of the few countries where economic inactivity has increased since the pandemic.
With the government gearing up for its investment summit in October, Reeves aims to show that the UK is “open for business” and will attract global investment to revitalise the economy. However, the tension over Labour’s proposed workers’ rights reforms persists, with businesses expressing concern over the potential economic impact of the Employment Rights Bill.
Despite the challenges, Reeves remains confident in Labour’s economic plan. “We believe being pro-business and pro-worker are two sides of the same coin,” she said.
