Rachel Reeves to Prioritise Productivity Boost in Autumn Budget Amid Economic Pressure

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is facing heightened scrutiny as Britain’s economic growth remains sluggish one year after Labour’s ascent to government. With official figures expected to show that GDP crept up by just 0.1 percent in the last quarter, Reeves is emphasising a renewed effort to confront the UK’s longstanding productivity problem in her upcoming autumn budget.

Reeves has dismissed speculation about imminent tax rises, stating that such discussions are common ahead of any budget announcement. She has instead outlined her principal focus: bolstering the productive capacity of the economy through greater investment and significant reforms to planning rules. According to the chancellor, while Labour’s first year has been about laying solid foundations, the second year is aimed at building a more robust economy centred on productivity growth.

Economic analysts partially attribute the recent anaemic output to tax increases announced in Reeves’ initial budget last October and to external factors such as the trade war initiated by Donald Trump. Labour’s response, led by Reeves, involves accelerating infrastructure spending and streamlining red tape within the UK’s planning system, with the aim of unblocking barriers that hamper growth. Plans are also under way to revive the Northern Powerhouse Rail project, promising improved connectivity between cities in northern England.

The UK’s struggle with productivity has prevailed since the 2008 financial crisis, with output per hour barely improving over recent years. The Treasury is bracing for a potential downgrade to productivity forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility, a development that could add a further £20bn hole to public finances. Reeves and the prime minister are reportedly preparing the ground for possible tax changes this autumn, examining areas such as inheritance tax thresholds to help reduce the deficit while adhering to pledges not to increase income tax, national insurance, or VAT rates.

Within Parliament, calls for alternative approaches such as a wealth tax continue, yet Reeves is focused on using investment and reform as the main levers to escape the cycle of low growth. The challenge remains significant, but the chancellor insists that the government is determined to both provide investment and remove the obstacles impeding it, positioning productivity at the heart of the UK’s economic renewal.