Keir gave me the job and said: Get people to trust you

We are the party of fiscal responsibility, says Rachel Reeves

- Nicholas Cecil

RACHEL REEVES told today how she has strived to persuade Britons to “trust me” with their money as polls showed her becoming the nation’s first female chancellor within days.

As millions of voters across the country are making up their mind over who to back on July 4, she gave reassurances over Labour’s plans for taxation and the economy.

Speaking to the Standard, Ms Reeves said: “I remember when Keir appointed me to the job and he said by the time of the next election people have got to be able to trust me with their money.”

In an exclusive interview, the shadow chancellor:

⬤ Spoke of how she wants to grow the City hit by Brexit and some companies listing in New York rather than London.

⬤ Said she has “nothing against expanding airport capacity” as Heathrow considers a third runway, but stressed factors such as the environment needed to be considered.

⬤ Told how the Metropolitan Police “needs to sort itself out” as Labour vows to halve violence against women and girls within a decade if it gets into power.

⬤ Rejected easing visa restrictions so London’s hospitality sector can recruit enough staff, stressing: “We want to get immigration down, not up so I’m not going to make that commitment.”

Tax

The Tories have thrown the kitchen sink at Labour on tax as they seek to persuade millions of voters not to trust Sir Keir Starmer’s party on the economy.

They cite the note left in 2010 by outgoing treasury chief secretary Liam Byrne to his successor: “I’m afraid there is no money.”

So can the nation trust Ms Reeves on the economy and that a Labour government would not leave the public finances in such a state as 14 years ago, admittedly as it reeled from the financial crash? “Absolutely,” she responded.