2023 Autumn Statement - the political reaction

22 Nov 2023

Addressing the House of Commons, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt used the 2023 Autumn Statement to announce a range of measures designed to boost economic growth, reward hard work and strengthen business investment.

The Chancellor stated that the 2023 Autumn Statement 'gets the economy growing, debt falling and helps return inflation to its 2% target – long-term decisions to build a brighter future'.

Mr Hunt concluded his Autumn Statement speech by saying that the government is 'delivering the biggest business tax cut in modern British history; the largest ever cut to employee and self-employed national insurance; and the biggest package of tax cuts to be implemented since the 1980s'.

Responding to the Chancellor's speech, Rachel Reeves, Shadow Chancellor, said: 'Mortgages rising, taxes eating into wages, inflation high, with prices still going up in the shops. Public services on their knees and too many families struggling to make ends meet. After 13 years of the Conservatives the economy is simply not working, and despite all the promises . . . working people are still worse off.'

Meanwhile, Carla Denyer, Co-Leader of the Green Party, commented that the Autumn Statement 'was another failed opportunity to end the cost-of-living crisis, tackle the climate crisis or restore crumbling public services'.