Rachel Reeves has just unveiled a series of significant public spending decisions in her Spring Statement as she tries to balance the nation’s books. The announcement was originally intended to be an update on the UK’s finances five months after her October Budget,

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Spring Statement on Wednesday (26 March) was met with a mixed reaction from fashion retail executives. Industry bodies meanwhile, continued to call for business rates reform, which were not mentioned by Reeves. Neither were National Insurance contributions or efforts made towards combatting retail crime.

Statement statement, Rachel Reeves relied heavily on the forecasts from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) – but did not quote them fully, presenting a slightly rosier outlook than they have actually given.