Healey says he wants gowth story ‘written in more places’ – UK politics live

Chancellor says growth requires ‘a fundamental shift that starts with putting power in the right places’Chancellor to argue UK economy can ‘turn corner’ despite bond market turmoilJohn Healey is just starting his speech. He is in the West Midlands, and he says he is pleased Richard Parker, the Labour West Midlands mayor, is in the audience. Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, is there too, along with Healey’s fellow Treasury ministers.This is from Faisal Islam, the BBC’s economics editor, on John Healey’s speech.New Chancellor John Healey about to give his debut speech in West Midlands setting the scene for the Budget trying to sustain an upbeat tone on the economy, given upticks in consumer and business confidence and decent comparative GDP figures so far in 2026, but faced with turmoil in global bond markets and just a few miles away biggest manufacturer JLR shedding jobs… tricky balancing act. One term to look out for - “Pufin” which means Public Finance institutions such as the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund, which have room to expand investments, while less constrained by borrowing rules.bottom line - this doesn’t seem to be laying ground for significant tax rises as the equivalent speeches in 2024/2025 did… but he’s just about to start… Continue reading...