Making Britain better off 'at forefront of chancellor's mind' on China trip, says Treasury
Share:
Making Britain better off will be "at the forefront of the chancellor's mind" during her visit to China, the Treasury has said amid controversy over the trip. Rachel Reeves flew out on Friday after ignoring calls from opposition parties to cancel the long-planned venture because of market turmoil at home.
The past week has seen a drop in the pound and an increase in government borrowing costs, which has fuelled speculation of more spending cuts or tax rises. The Tories have accused the chancellor of having "fled to China" rather than explain how she will fix the UK's flatlining economy, while the Liberal Democrats say she should stay in Britain and announce a "plan B" to address market volatility.
However, Ms Reeves has rejected calls to cancel the visit, writing in The Times on Friday night that choosing not to engage with China is "no choice at all". 👉 Click here to follow Electoral Dysfunction wherever you get your podcasts 👈. The chancellor will be accompanied by Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey and other senior executives.
She will meet with her counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng, in Beijing on Saturday to discuss financial services, trade and investment. She will also "raise difficult issues", including Chinese firms supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine and concerns over constraints on rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, the Treasury said.
