Rachel Reeves has admitted that the Labour Government has ‘disappointed’ people.
But the Chancellor insisted she had got the balance right between tax, spending and borrowing.
She told an audience at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival that her job involved making tough decisions, even if they are unpopular.
She told the Iain Dale All Talk Show: ‘The reason people voted Labour at the last election is they want to change and they were unhappy with the way that the country was being governed.
‘I’m impatient for change as well, but I’ve also got the job of making sure the sums always add up. You certainly can’t do everything straight away, all at once.’
Ms Reeves pointed to Labour’s £200million investment in carbon capture in Scotland, which she said was welcomed by the energy industry.
Rachel Reeves (pictured) has admitted that the Labour Government has ‘disappointed’ people. But the Chancellor insisted she had got the balance right between tax, spending and borrowing
Reeves told the Iain Dale All Talk Show: ‘The reason people voted Labour at the last election is they want to change and they were unhappy with the way that the country was being governed. Defending Labour’s record, she said her party had the ‘balance about right’
At the same time, Labour’s windfall tax, she said, was not liked by the sector. ‘But you can’t really have one without the other,’ she said.
Defending Labour’s record, she said her party had the ‘balance about right’. ‘But of course you’re going to disappoint people,’ she added.
‘No one wants to pay more taxes. Everyone wants more money than public spending – and borrowing is not a free option, because you’ve got to pay for it.
‘I think people know those sort of constraints, but no one really likes them and I’m the one that has to sort the sums up.’
