Rachel Reeves has encouraged Labour MPs to rally behind her proposed Budget, as she commits to remaining as chancellor in the coming years. During a meeting with Labour's Parliamentary Party held on Monday evening, Reeves emphasized the importance of unity among MPs to ensure success in the next electoral battle. The Budget, set to be unveiled on Wednesday after much speculation, is anticipated to include tax increases. Reeves expressed confidence that most Labour MPs would support 90-95% of her spending proposals, though she advised acceptance of more challenging measures, stating: "It's a package, not a pick-and-mix. You can't say you like the cola bottles but you don't like the fruit salad."
"It all comes together and hangs together as a whole," she reiterated. Her primary goals include cutting the cost of living, reducing NHS waiting lists, and decreasing the cost of debt. After the meeting, feedback from Labour MPs was mixed; while one described Reeves as "strong and honest," another characterized her calls for unity as "desperate." Over the past year since the last Budget, Reeves has faced growing scrutiny from Labour MPs, following some policy reversals including the retraction of cuts to the winter fuel payment.