Angela Rayner last week said there was “no excuse” not to meet the target and this week Sir Keir Starmer doubled down on that pledge, committing to the creation of a generation of new towns with spades in the ground before the next election in 2029.
Critics said the findings of a survey foreshadowing staff cuts show the tax raids were “a millstone” around the neck of the economy, while business leaders said the government “urgently” needs to push for economic growth.
Rachel Reeves will begin the week facing dual economic blows as employers warn of impending staff redundancies and record low small-business confidence as a result of her Budget tax hikes.
Labour starts the week battling criticism over its ability to achieve its housing plan, as well as the Budget’s blow to business confidence.
A separate survey commissioned by the Federation of Small Businesses found that confidence among its members hit its lowest recorded level outside the pandemic in the final quarter of last year.
