John Healey received a standing ovation from delegates at Labour's conference in Liverpool on Monday, but the question remains: is he a good Chancellor? The veteran MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough took over from Rachel Reeves at Number 11 in July, following the collapse of Sir Keir Starmer's administration.
Healey's pitch to Labour
In his speech to the party faithful, Mr Healey placed improving the life chances of young people at the heart of his pitch to members, MPs, and Cabinet colleagues. He tied this to welfare reform, an issue that had caused a major headache for Sir Keir, who failed to push through changes amid a backbench rebellion.
Mr Healey's resignation as defence secretary helped eject Sir Keir from No.10, and his appointment as Chancellor came after 10 weeks in the role. Conference delegates signalled their confidence in him with a standing ovation at the end of his address.
Challenges ahead
Mr Healey outlined the challenge he faces in his relatively new role, making it clear that the party did not inherit the more favourable fiscal position it did when Sir Tony Blair swept to power in 1997. The Chancellor faces pressure to reduce Britain's welfare bill, meet the country's growing national debt, and meet spending commitments on defence—an issue he resigned over under Sir Keir's premiership.
With a month to go until the Budget, Mr Healey promised a “new confidence in Britain” and a “new age of industrialisation”, putting growth at the heart of his economic message.
Reaction from the opposition
Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith described Mr Healey as "Rachel Reeves 2.0" after his conference speech. Mr Griffith said Mr Healey’s hot air alone could have powered his new age of British industrialisation, pointing to no plan to cut welfare, increase defence spending, scrap Labour’s fuel duty hike, or get young people into work.
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