🔨 Growing the UK Economy

• Government’s Focus on Growth: The Chief Secretary to the Treasury outlined the government’s commitment to stimulating economic growth across the UK, highlighting that it is their top priority. This is seen as essential for addressing public service issues like NHS waiting lists, school rebuilding, and increasing police numbers.

• Inclusive Growth Strategy: The government aims to ensure that economic growth benefits every part of the UK, with plans for regional growth to be integrated into key strategies such as the spending review, infrastructure, industrial, trade, and investment approaches.

• Infrastructure Investments: Significant investments were announced, including £200 million for a mass transit system in West Yorkshire and improvements to connectivity in the north through a 10-year infrastructure strategy.

• Investment Zones and Job Creation: The Wrexham and Flintshire investment zone was highlighted, expected to attract £1 billion in private investment and create up to 6,000 jobs. The national wealth fund will work with local areas to develop investment opportunities.

• Heathrow Expansion: The government supports a third runway at Heathrow, expected to increase GDP by 0.43% over 25 years and create over 100,000 jobs. This project will undergo a full assessment to ensure it meets legal, environmental, and climate obligations.

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel: A £63 million investment in the advanced fuels fund was announced to support the production of sustainable aviation fuel, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and create green jobs.

• Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor: The government plans to capitalize on the potential of this corridor, with Lord Vallance acting as a champion to promote its growth potential. The corridor is expected to boost GDP by £78 billion by 2035.

• Opposition Critique: The shadow Chancellor criticized the government’s growth strategy, suggesting it lacks ambition and is a response to pressure rather than a proactive approach. They highlighted concerns about the government’s tax policies and questioned the timing and effectiveness of the announcements.

• Regional and Local Focus: Various MPs raised concerns and suggestions about growth opportunities in their regions, including transport improvements, regional investments, and local development projects, showing a widespread interest in economic growth across different parts of the UK.

The disagreement in the session is moderate, reflecting a typical level of political contention around economic policy. The following points substantiate this rating:

1. Opposition Critique: The shadow Chancellor from the Conservative party, Mel Stride, expresses a strong critique of the Government’s policies, describing them as ‘ruinous’ and questioning the feasibility of their growth strategy. He highlights a lack of ambition and accuses the Government of hastily cobbled plans, which suggests significant disagreement. Examples include:
   • “What we do not need is some hasty mañana moment of unquantified, vague promises of a better tomorrow”
   • “…reverse the grievous damage that this Chancellor has wrought in just her first six months in office”
   • “By doing so, far from encouraging private investment, they are actively squeezing it out”
2. Government Response: In response, Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, dismissively addresses the criticisms, underscoring achievements and pledging to work with businesses, which shows a clear disagreement with the Opposition’s perspective. His responses are notably defensive but also assert the Government’s commitment to its policies. Examples include:
   • “Let me tell him that we have done more in the last six or seven months than that lot did in the last 14 years.”
   • “The shadow Chancellor asked me about our plans to work with business. The comments today from business leaders and investors speak for themselves.”
3. Specific Policy Disputes: There is disagreement over specific policies such as airport expansion and fiscal measures. For instance, the Liberal Democrats oppose Heathrow expansion due to environmental concerns, while the Government supports it to drive growth. This disagreement is articulated by Daisy Cooper, who states:
   • “We Liberal Democrats oppose this, because it will deliver minimal growth at a huge cost to the climate.”
4. Regional Growth Concerns: Concerns are raised about the distribution of growth benefits across the UK, with Scottish MPs expressing discontent over the lack of specific projects mentioned for Scotland. This suggests a disagreement on whether the policy initiatives are truly inclusive. For instance, Dave Doogan mentions:
   • “It says on the cover that this is about growing the UK economy, but the statement’s substance is much more about growing the English economy.”
5. Economic Policy Effects: Conservative MPs raise concerns about the potential adverse economic effects of government policies like national insurance rises and inheritance tax policies, which the Government counters with positive growth forecasts and reports from international bodies. Examples from the debate include:
   • Dr Neil Hudson’s statement: “…everything the Labour Government have done so far is having the exact reverse effect.”
   • Darren Jones’s rebuttal: “In its long-term forecast, the OBR forecasted growth increasing in this country…”

Despite these points of disagreement, the session does not escalate to intense or acrimonious conflict, maintaining a level of respectful debate. The disagreements are largely centered on policy effectiveness, with some critical remarks but without reaching a level of high confrontation or personal attacks that would justify a higher rating.