Devoting myself to reforming SW1’s culture of failure after a 25 year career in business | Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer
West Sussex, United Kingdom
Joined April 2010
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When a Labour Chancellor says they won’t cut welfare spending this Parliament, to be honest, I’m inclined to believe him!
Now more clarity from the man himself:
John Healey tells Channel 4 News: "It's not correct to say that we're going to bring this welfare bill down in this Parliament because we've not set a timetable for that."
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Bridget, telling lies is a breach of the Ministerial Code.
It's well known from your time as Education Secretary (before your demotion!) that you struggle with the truth.
As the then junior minister responsible for financial services regulation, I was not even remotely a 'co-author' of the mini budget. I did not see it until the night before.
I’m flattered that my decades of real-world business experience outside Westminster trigger so many Labour MPs. It’ll be useful when the next Conservative government has to clean up your mess!
(P.S. Mortgage rates are higher now than in 2022…)
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
“I don’t care if he’s the Chair of the Defence Select Committee”
A churlish and ill-tempered outing from Wes Streeting at the Despatch Box as he undermines Tan Dhesi and the Labour-chaired Defence Select Committee that holds the Defence Secretary to account.
This is entirely the wrong tone to adopt.
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
What can Britain learn from Poland about backing small businesses? 🇵🇱🇬🇧
CPS Head of Small Business and Entrepreneurship @rcolvile explains why Poland’s positive attitude towards small businesses offers a lesson for the UK.
Unbelievable! 🤯
This morning, the Chancellor said the welfare bill would be cut before an election.
Now he’s being slapped down by Number 10!
The working-age welfare bill is set to hit £220 BILLION. That’s up £60 billion under Labour.
They should be cutting it NOW.
Andy Burnham's spokesman says the government won't be setting an "arbitrary target or timetable" on reducing the welfare bill.
Pressed if Healey misspoke in his Today interview, the spokesman says: "The chancellor is completely in line with what the PM has said over the last few months that the welfare bill needs to come down, and as I say, we're not setting an arbitrary target or timetable on that."
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
This is astounding. The government's own figures show working-age welfare will go up by £60 BILLION by 2030, yet the Treasury has to rush out and correct the Chancellor to say there is no timetable for cutting the benefits bill. Looks like foot in mouth syndrome is spreading.
John Healey couldn't even find £10 billion to get defence spending to 3% of GDP - the thing he quit over.
Don't let anyone tell you this was a 'do no harm budget'. In doing so little, Labour have harmed our economic security and they've harmed our national security.
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
Today's Budget is a kick in the teeth for the North East.
❌Labour didn't approve Rosebank
❌Or scrap the EPL
📈The tax burden is going up
📈And so is benefits spending
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
What Labour's Budget means for living standards👇
📉 Typical incomes forecast to fall by £1,050 over next 2 yrs
💷 No real earnings growth in 2027 or 2028
🔥 Inflation rising to almost 4% early next year
🏛️ Tax take heading for record highs
Working harder, but taking home less.
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
So much for this being a "cost of living government"
This utterly bleak line from the Resolution Foundation on living standards in their overnight Budget analysis.
"Between now (2026-27) and the end of the Parliament (2028-29), typical incomes are forecast to fall in total by £1,050 (3 per cent)."
In other words: On average we'll be getting poorer in the run-up to the next election.
Healey’s inaction is completely irresponsible.
He failed to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030. No plan to tackle the deficit. No plan to cut welfare spending.
He even reduced the Government’s fiscal headroom - essentially our country’s ‘rainy day fund’. We now have headroom equivalent to just three days and a half days of government spending.
That’s no way to run our country.
John Healey needs to get a grip.
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
The OBR now expects growth of just 1% next year, a third lower than it forecast in March.
Labour keeps piling costs onto the firms that hire and invest, then acts surprised when growth stalls 🤷🏼♂️
Welfare spending is going up by £60 BILLION over the course of this Parliament.
We desperately needed the Chancellor to make tough choices and cut welfare spending so we could fund defence.
Instead, John Healey kicked the can down the road. Again.
Uh oh… after John Healey clearly promised on @BBCr4today that the benefits bill will be cut before the next election, @ChrisMasonBBC tells listeners the Treasury have since been on the phone disputing he said this and that he wasn’t putting a timeline on welfare reductions.
Good to chat to you @bbcnickrobinson about the choices I would make as Chancellor.
Not all will agree with them, but, just as when I was a CFO, I will always set them out transparently and protect the nation’s finances.
This from @thetimes. 👇
It’s no surprise John Healey’s do-nothing Budget has failed to calm business fears. He has failed to meet the moment. 👇
We desperately need a government that backs business. Cut red tape, cut the cost of hiring and cut taxes.
We Conservatives will.
Business groups are sharply criticising John Healey’s budget
“This budget lacks the bold moves that would have made it easier for firms to invest, hire and grow,” CBI boss Rain Newton-Smith says
“There is nothing concrete to provide breathing space for the vast majority of businesses who are already dealing with energy bills a third higher than their European counterparts.”
The budget had “nothing to ease sky-high energy bills and nothing to make hiring someone more affordable,” the Federation of Small Businesses says.
The British Chambers of Commerce says Healey’s package lacks “the big calls that would really shift the economic dial” and that “many firms will have been hoping for a greater impact.”
Make UK says the budget “failed to address any of the fundamental costs holding back investment and growth in manufacturing.”
Via @Joe_Mayes @JacobReid02 @sabahmeddings: bloomberg.com/news/articles/…
Two explanations:
A. Labour Party before country - early election inbound.
B. The Chancellor really hasn’t got what it takes to make a tough decision.
Neither are good.
Andrew Griffith MP retweeted
#Budget2026 My verdict. the one where Chancellor Healey “Kicks The Can Down the Road”
Healey’s defence plan only exists in his imagination.
When he resigned, he said: “3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set.”
Today, he failed to deliver.
The best he can do is a plan to make a plan. He has lost all credibility. John Healey should resign.
