Reeves defiant over China trip in face of growing criticism and economic turmoil following a below par trade deal with China in the week the pound dropped.
The Labour chancellor accused of ‘undesirable’ policies and ‘incompatible promises’ released a statement today that suggested the UK got a below average trade deal.
As the pound hit a new 14-month low and the cost of government borrowing rose again, Ms Reeves faced calls to cancel her trip and remain home to deal with the market turmoil.
But she insisted the visit was “in the national interest” as the government scrambles to boost economic growth.
Reeves defiant over China trip
Reeves defiant over China trip in face of growing criticism and economic turmoil. Ms Reeves said she would be “candid” with the Asian giant on matters like democratic values, and that simply choosing not to engage with the world’s second-largest economy “is no choice at all”.
Growing the economy was “front and centre” of the minister’s plans and would come through “careful pragmatic cooperation with international partners”, she said.
The highly respected Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank also warned Ms Reeves could face “unenviable” options, blaming the economy she inherited and global factors but also “a series of government choices and mutually incompatible promises”.