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Rachel Reeves has confirmed that Labor will not set out a detailed plan for public spending before the general election.
The shadow chancellor appeared to accept that the new Labor government would have to make some spending cuts, saying: “We won’t be able to turn things around quickly.”
But she insisted her party’s plan for economic growth would improve public services without raising taxes or borrowing.
The government’s plans to cut borrowing, as confirmed in Jeremy Hunt’s Budget last week, will limit annual increases in public spending to 1% in real terms.
Economists estimate that the policy will require cuts of up to £20bn in other sectors such as the judiciary and local government, given existing commitments to increase spending on health, defence, and childcare.
Budgets for each department have been set aside for next year, but a new spending review to determine future funding will not take place until after the election.
Mr Reeves, along with Laura Kuenssberg, told the BBC on Sunday that it was impossible for him to reveal details of the spending cuts Labor would make in government.
The Shadow Chancellor said: “At the moment, the government has not formulated a plan for each department, so it is not reviewing spending. If we win the election, we will immediately review spending, but that is not something that can be done by the opposition.”
“We know public services need more money,” he added, insisting Labour’s economic growth plans would improve the public finances.
The Labor spending review will build on the overall funding package already put forward by the Conservatives, unless Mr Reeves also has an emergency budget to change the so-called “envelope” of national spending.
She argued that the next Labor government would face the worst economic legacy since the Second World War, saying: “We won’t be able to turn things around immediately, but we will tackle everything.”
The Shadow Chancellor is currently tossing out possible ways to fill the £2bn hole left in his spending plans caused by Jeremy Hunt’s decision to adopt Labour’s policy of abolishing non-tax status for wealthy foreigners. Are considering. “We are reviewing all government documents to identify the funding streams to meet these commitments,” she said.