Reeves sets optimistic tone but stresses tough choices too

Image source, PA Media

  • Author, Henry Zeffman
  • Role, Chief political correspondent
  • Reporting from Liverpool

There was one line recurring again and again in the chancellor鈥檚 speech to Labour conference: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Britain we鈥檙e building."

This is clearly a feature of Rachel Reeves鈥檚 determination to demonstrate more optimism - not just the tough choices to come, but the rewards she believes will come from having made them.

The phrase may also be an allusion to Labour鈥檚 determination to increase housebuilding, perhaps the biggest component of the government鈥檚 plans to increase economic growth.

I think it is also a conscious echo of the - Gordon Brown in 2009.

In that speech, Brown reeled off a list of what he saw as the New Labour governments鈥 achievements, concluding to a raucous ovation: 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the Britain we鈥檝e been building together鈥.

Clips of the speech are often shared on social media by Labour politicians and activists - Reeves is subtly signalling to them that she hopes to build a similar record in government.

The most controversial decision Reeves has made in her 80 days as chancellor is withdrawing the winter fuel allowance from most pensioners.

The chancellor tackled that head on, arguing that pensioners would still benefit from a rising state pension because of Labour鈥檚 commitment to the triple-lock.

Interestingly, she made an argument in this section which was not really about the winter fuel allowance itself, but about the necessity of making controversial decisions overall.

鈥淚 know that not everyone in this hall or in the country will agree with every decision that I make. But I will not duck those decisions, not for political expediency, not for personal advantage鈥 I did not take those decisions lightly, I will never take the responsibility of this office lightly," she said.

For all that Reeves鈥檚 speech was more optimistic than her previous rhetoric, she is making this argument because she knows that there is more controversy to come, with decisions that will not only be divisive nationwide but within the Labour Party too.