Rachel Reeves

I mean, that's what we did all through last year, and it actually served us pretty well.

And whilst trade barriers are going up around the world at the moment, we can all see that.

In the last year, barriers to trade with the UK have fallen.

We've secured a comprehensive trade deal with India, which will come into force in the next few months, just taking legislation through both of our parliaments to secure that.

That includes trade in services, support for exports and also around government procurement.

That's a huge deal.

The deal with Korea, one of the fastest growing economies as well in the G20 is very important for the UK.

But most important probably is the trade with our nearest neighbours and trading partners in the EU, which was damaged after leaving the EU, voting to leave the EU in 2016.

We are now fixing that mess by improving trade relations and cooperation with our closest allies and neighbours.

I think that people recognize that certainly with this government and with me as chancellor, there's huge respect for independent economic institutions, whether that is the Bank of England or the Office of Budget Responsibility.

One of the reasons why the UK has been so

has had challenging economic times the last few years is because the previous Conservative government, particularly under Liz Truss, both played fast and loose with the public finances, but also undermined the economic institutions that make Britain, have made Britain, a safe and secure place to invest.

We're undoing that damage, working closely with the independent economic institutions, but respecting their independence.

uh and that collaboration and fiscal policy supporting monetary policy has enabled those six cuts in interest rates taking rates down to 3.75 percent it's the fastest speed of rate reduction in the uk in 17 years and that's only possible because of the stability that we've returned to the economy and the decisions we've made on fiscal consolidation

And the IMF say that amongst developed economies, we have got the fastest pace of fiscal consolidation over the next few years.

That gives investors confidence around the stability in the UK, our grip on the public finances and our grip on inflation.

Well, look, we won a massive majority just a year and a half ago.

We have three and a half years remaining in our term in office.

And I'm confident that our economic plan to grow the economy with the stability return to the economy, bringing investment in global investment, as well as unlocking domestic investment,

is the right plan and in the next few months as inflation returns to target with lower interest rates which are benefiting both households and businesses that we will see the fruits of that in growth and higher living standards.