Labour's initial plan was to front-load the pain in the early months of Keir Starmer winning power.
His Government would make a dash for growth and showcase the positive changes they had made ahead of the 2026 poll.
Reeves' latest economic statement confirms this strategy is dead. Her spring statement was good news for First Minister John Swinney and another sore one for Sarwar.
Balancing the books on the backs of the disabled is not the change Scots voted for last year.
The seeds of the Labour Government's early difficulties in office were sown ahead of the general election.
Reeves ruled out rises to key taxes and promised to rein in borrowing as part of stringent "fiscal rules" that are now causing her party grief and anguish to vulnerable people.
She believed strong economic growth would be the magic pill for the country, but the medicine has yet to arrive.
The growth forecast for 2025 has been slashed, her rainy day cash vanished and so she has slammed the brakes on spending to comply with her self-imposed rules.
President Trump's crazy tariffs plan is unquestionably playing havoc with the global economy and the uncertainty cannot be downplayed.
Equally, some of the blame for the sluggish growth has to be placed at the door of the Treasury.
Reeves wants growth and yet she lumbered business with a tax rise on hiring staff by increasing employer national insurance contributions.
She should be making it easier for companies to take on new workers, particularly those who have been out of the jobs market, not more expensive.
Today's statement could be the latest in a string of difficult announcements, if the havoc emanating from the White House continues.
As the economy worsens, and the Chancellor is hampered by her fiscal straightjacket, she will have no choice...
His Government would make a dash for growth and showcase the positive changes they had made ahead of the 2026 poll.
Reeves' latest economic statement confirms this strategy is dead. Her spring statement was good news for First Minister John Swinney and another sore one for Sarwar.
Balancing the books on the backs of the disabled is not the change Scots voted for last year.
The seeds of the Labour Government's early difficulties in office were sown ahead of the general election.
Reeves ruled out rises to key taxes and promised to rein in borrowing as part of stringent "fiscal rules" that are now causing her party grief and anguish to vulnerable people.
She believed strong economic growth would be the magic pill for the country, but the medicine has yet to arrive.
The growth forecast for 2025 has been slashed, her rainy day cash vanished and so she has slammed the brakes on spending to comply with her self-imposed rules.
President Trump's crazy tariffs plan is unquestionably playing havoc with the global economy and the uncertainty cannot be downplayed.
Equally, some of the blame for the sluggish growth has to be placed at the door of the Treasury.
Reeves wants growth and yet she lumbered business with a tax rise on hiring staff by increasing employer national insurance contributions.
She should be making it easier for companies to take on new workers, particularly those who have been out of the jobs market, not more expensive.
Today's statement could be the latest in a string of difficult announcements, if the havoc emanating from the White House continues.
As the economy worsens, and the Chancellor is hampered by her fiscal straightjacket, she will have no choice...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 27, 2025