Post your questions for Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer

[JustineMumsnet]

Hi all,
Next week we’ll be back in Westminster to put your questions to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP.
If there’s something you’d like me to ask her - from the big economic picture to how the cost of living is affecting families (or anything else) - then please post your question below.

As ever, one question per user please, and keep it civil. We’ll be tight on time, so short, focused questions will help us get through as many as possible.

We’ll close the thread early on Sunday evening, so please do get your questions in before then. We’ll be back soon with her responses.

Thanks,
Justine

No doubt - together with waffling about knowing she's made mistakes and trying to claim the multitude of U turns made by Starmer weren't due to incompetence but were in fact a government listening to the people. A conveniently timed interview right before the local elections which will only serve to remind people of just how much damage she's caused.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your questions. You can see the interview with Rachel Reeves here: https://www.mumsnet.com/i/rachel-reeves-mumsnet-asks

Thanks,
MNHQ

Thank you for asking my question @RhiannonEMumsnet - but what a cop out of an answer by her!

My question was included and she answered!

Nearlylovemyusername says you've been in power for nearly two years. Can you please list the groups of people who are feeling better off now, aside from benefits claimants and unions?

Rachel Reeves: Well, if you are represented by a trade union as a teacher, or a teaching assistant, or a nurse, or you work in the armed forces or the police, you would've had a real terms pay rise for two years in a row. And I think that's a good thing because I think we should - I mean what did the pandemic teach us? It taught us about the importance of those key public service workers who keep our society going in the toughest of times. And yes, there was a trade union ask that we rewarded and paid public sector workers properly. It's one I fully subscribed to. My mum and dad were primary school teachers. They were members of their teaching trade union. And I do think that people who work in public services should be paid properly. Also, in terms of this distinction between who's on benefits and who's not on benefits - well, most parents get child benefit. That's a benefit. But I [don’t] think many of those people regard themselves as benefit recipients. My mum and dad get the state pension, they wouldn't regard themselves as being on benefits. They'd paid into the system and now they're getting something back. More than half of people who are benefiting from the two child change were not on Universal Credit when they had their first child, but things happen in our lives. A partner dies, a partner leaves, you lose your job, somebody else in your family falls ill and you have to take on caring responsibilities. And the whole point of the welfare state is it's there when you need it. We all pay in when we work as we should. But then when something happens in our lives - you are old, you are ill, you have children - the welfare state is there for you and that is a principle that I believe in. And I think this sort of "people on benefits and people not on benefits" — it's just not as simple as that.

So the only people who are better off under Labour are unionised ones and benefit claimants. Officially confirmed by Chancellor.
So those of us who are neither - please take a note. And vote accordingly.

Good to get it from the horse’s mouth.

Yeah, I got a "sorry you feel that way" answer.
She doesn't understand the squeezed-middle demographic, does she? She really doesn't understand how Labour policies are disincentivising work. And employment, too, let's not forget.
How crazy is it that some people (include public servants here!) are working fewer hours because it is more financially beneficial for them.

I don’t know how these interviews work but I would hope her team will have done their homework and looked through all the questions and come up with possible pitfalls and answers for her. I hope everyone’s question was therefore not in vain.

I would have liked the UBI question to have been taken seriously and a reason given for her answer.

So, according to Rachel, she doesn’t give a fuck about the squeezed middle and we will stay squeezed! Gotcha Rachel!

Interesting that Rachel rejects AI, when this is top of the agenda for the vast majority of global businesses. She might not agree with it on a personal level, but she is in danger of being left behind professionally. She wouldn't get away with that attitude were she a senior leader in a business environment.

I thought she came across quite well and was more likeable than I expected.

Yes, she is a dinosaur.

Anyway, she cannot say she likes AI because unions don't like AI and Labour's priority is to keep the votes of unionised workers, public servants, benefits claimants and pensioners. Labour has no long term strategy to grow the economy other than how to appease backbenchers and stay in power.

RR: And I hope that I'm Chancellor for long enough that I'll be able to do a whole range of things.

There is no point in giving her more runway. She does not get it. Read the transcript of the interview. She is doing great, we are all doing great under Labour. We can only look forward to more of the same shitshow.

Please exercise your votes accordingly in the local elections.

What an absolute cop out.

2029 can’t come soon enough.

How I miss Rishi!

Still really disappointed.

@nearlylovemyusername unfortunately some sectors in education haven't got anything like that pay rise and the unions have turned on labour

Every time we have these web chats, disabled people ask questions, and the vast majority of the time, if not every single time, we get ignored. No one cares what an MP’s favourite biscuit is, but the fact that Rachel Reeves has made massive changes to the Motability scheme is going to have a huge impact on some of us. People are going to have their lifelines taken away and be rendered housebound, fgs.

I get we’re in a minority, but we are here and it would be nice to be acknowledged and noticed for a change.

so there will be another tax rise and another round of sweeties for unions

OMG, another three years and four months.
Let's see how May elections play out and if they get the message

I really wish my question about social care funding had been asked as I think this is an important and urgent issue with many ramifications e.g. for the NHS, various council services and people's own family finances. I understand why it wasn't asked though, as no one else was interested!

Still it was a shame to waste a question on Rachel's emotional day at work, as that was never going to lead to any insight into the government's economic plans.

I don’t think anything touching on specifics was asked, which allowed her to just repeat the same old crap that they always do.

Yep, we aren't workers in her eyes; saying it is a system she inherited is a poor excuse. And saying we're the top 5% of earners is a classic misuse of statistics. The range within that 5% is massive. I actually voted Labour because I believed what they said about supporting workers, then I find out I'm not considered a worker because I earn too much, eg a fraction over £50k makes me furious. But she'll never know and never care

No question from mumsnet on the waste of taxpayers money fighting unwinnable cases through the courts. She cant magic money to fix everything in one parliamentary term but she could crack down on waste.

I guess that was entirely predictable. I wonder if she saw all the questions in advance? Perhaps she chose the questions she wanted?

First time I’ve taken part in one of these and my question was asked. Well done @JustineMumsnet

Nope. Not workers, just cash cows.