Chancellor Rachel Reeves should use today’s Spring Statement to shift towards a left-wing agenda with more taxes on the wealthy and higher spending on public services, the head of a union has said.
Following Labour’s bruising by-election loss to the Green Party last week, the Government has faced calls from some of its MPs to lurch to the left in some policy areas to avoid losing votes to progressive parties.
General Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, Steve Wright, has become the latest to urge ministers to move towards a more radical tax and spend approach.
He warned cost pressures on fire services could lead to closures unless Reeves “urgently changes direction” and called for a tax on “extreme wealth” to invest in frontline services.
Wright told The i Paper Reeves should push ahead in increasing the national minimum wage, calling for it to rise to at least £15 per hour for all workers.
Reeves will deliver her Spring Statement in the Commons this afternoon.
Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates.
Analysis: Reeves has done her best to make the Spring Statement a non-event Reeves urged to shift towards the left in Spring Statement Sort: Newest first Oldest first March 3, 2026 7:26 amAnalysis: Reeves has done her best to make the Spring Statement a non-event
Hugo GyePolitical EditorShe has been helped by the global drama: against the backdrop of the war in Iran, anything the Chancellor says is likely to be very much overshadowed.
In fact, the Treasury is planning to publish nothing at all – the only document will the updated forecast on the economy and public finances from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR).
But there are some key things to look out for. The OBR is likely to weigh in on the question of whether the Government’s immigration curbs risk harming the economy in the upcoming years, an unfortunate clash between two of Labour’s main priorities.
It is an important moment to take stock of the Government’s drive to boost the economy while controlling the public finances, but is unlikely to be a game-changer.
March 3, 2026 7:23 amReeves urged to shift towards the left in Spring Statement
Chloe ChaplainSenior Political CorrespondentFollowing Labour’s bruising by-election loss to the Green Party last week, the government has faced calls from some of its MPs to lurch to the left in some policy areas to avoid losing votes to progressive parties.
He warned cost pressures on fire services could lead to closures unless Reeves “urgently changes direction” and called for a tax on “extreme wealth” to invest in frontline services.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves poses on the doorstep of 11 Downing Street with her ministerial red box in November (Photo: AP)The government has been slowly increasing the national minimum wage – which will rise to £10.85 per hour for 18 to 20-year-olds and £12.71 for over 21s from next month – and has promised to close the gap so all adults earn the same.
Latest reports, in the Financial Times, suggest it could simply be delayed until “the 2030s” rather than meeting the target at the end of this parliament, in 2029.
“There can be no more excuses in the wake of last week’s disastrous by-election defeat. Rachel Reeves must act on the wake-up call our party received in Gorton and Denton.”
Sir Keir Starmer issues a statement at 10 Downing Street (Photo: PA)
Tuesday’s statement is not a Budget and will not include any fiscal announcements from the Chancellor.
Despite efforts from the Treasury to use the Spring Statement to highlight economic progress made by the government, the conflict in the Middle East and subsequent uncertainty threatens to put renewed pressure on the Chancellor.
Figures released last week showed a continued rise in the number of young people not in employment, education or training increased – which is reaching ever closer to one million.
Allies of Reeves briefed The Sun that she wanted to use relative stability to introduce tax cuts before the next election – in contrast to the tax rises she has announced so far during her time in No 11.
March 3, 2026 7:15 amGood morning – and welcome back
After a brief pause due to events in the Middle East over the weekend, we’re back reporting from Westminster today as the Chancellor prepares to deliver her Spring Statement.
Rachel Reeves (Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
Reeves is expected to say the economy is “stronger and more secure” as a result of decisions taken by the Government as she addresses the Commons.
“This Government has the right economic plan for our country… in a world that has become yet more uncertain,” she will say.
“Building growth not on the contribution of a few people or a few parts of the country, but in every part of Britain with a state that doesn’t stand back, but steps up.”
We’ll have updates throughout the day.
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