Rachel Reeves’s good intentions mean nothing against rising inflation, meagre growth and falling employment, writes shadow secretary of state for work and pensions Helen Whately

One thing that I don’t think can be doubted about Rachel Reeves is her intentions. Like any Chancellor, of course she wants to achieve growth, prosperity and higher living standards. Of course she wants investment to increase, government debt to fall and unemployment to decline.

The problem isn’t her intentions. It’s that every single action she has taken has undermined them.

Labour progress report: Inflation up, growth down

Let’s start with inflation. Her stated aim is to hold it at the two per cent target she inherited from the last government. Instead, she has pumped £70bn a year extra into public spending – including huge public sector pay rises – and inflation has risen nearly a per cent since Labour have been in office.

This has........

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