Why Labour have every reason to loosen the purse strings

Elliott Johnson; Howard Reed; Anna Thew; Matthew Johnson

Why Labour have every reason to loosen the purse strings

Elliott Johnson, Howard Reed, Anna Thew, Matthew Johnson

School of Communities and Education

Research output: Other contribution

Abstract

Rachel Reeves describes the UK economy as being in its worst state since WWII, yet commits to intensifying the very policies—austerity and fiscal restraint—that created this crisis. Our Journal of Social Policy article uses Act Now‘s tax reform package to refute Labour strategists’ belief that ‘tax and spend’ is electorally unfeasible, demonstrating the Government is at odds with public opinion.

Original language	English
Type	Blog
Media of output	Online
Publisher	Social Policy Blog
Number of pages	12
Place of Publication	Newcastle Upon Tyne
Publication status	Published - 21 Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities

Research Group keywords

Common Sense Policy Expert Group

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

Reduced Inequalities

Access to Document

Why Labour Should Loosen Fiscal RulesFinal published version, 5.27 MBLicence: CC BY

https://socialpolicyblog.co.uk/2026/04/21/why-labour-have-every-reason-to-loosen-the-purse-strings/Licence: CC BY

UK resident preferences on tax reform: survey-based evidence suggests support for progressive change in the run up to the 2024 General Election
Johnson, E. A., Stark, G., Moseley, L., Littlefair, D., Atkinson, J., Johnson, M. & Reed, H., 18 Feb 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Social Policy. p. 1-21 21 p.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Open Access
File
4 Downloads (Pure)
Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract
Common Sense Policy Group, Johnson, M. T., Dorling, D., Driscoll, J., Hardill, I., Hobbs, C., Johnson, E. A., Lawson, N., Nadel, J., Nettle, D., Pickett, K. E., Polanski, Z., Pollock, A., Reed, H., Robson, I., Stark, G., Taylor-Robinson, D. & Wilkinson, R., 1 Jul 2024, Manchester: Manchester University Press. 350 p.
Research output: Book/Report › Book › peer-review

Open Access
File

Act Now: A Vision for a Better Future and a New Social Contract
Johnson, M. (Participant), Nettle, D. (Participant), Johnson, E. A. (Participant), Stark, G. (Participant) & Reed, H. (Participant)
Impact: Public policy, law and services

Cite this

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title = "Why Labour have every reason to loosen the purse strings",

abstract = "Rachel Reeves describes the UK economy as being in its worst state since WWII, yet commits to intensifying the very policies—austerity and fiscal restraint—that created this crisis. Our Journal of Social Policy article uses Act Now{\textquoteleft}s tax reform package to refute Labour strategists{\textquoteright} belief that {\textquoteleft}tax and spend{\textquoteright} is electorally unfeasible, demonstrating the Government is at odds with public opinion.",

author = "Elliott Johnson and Howard Reed and Anna Thew and Matthew Johnson",

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AU - Reed, Howard

AU - Thew, Anna

AU - Johnson, Matthew

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N2 - Rachel Reeves describes the UK economy as being in its worst state since WWII, yet commits to intensifying the very policies—austerity and fiscal restraint—that created this crisis. Our Journal of Social Policy article uses Act Now‘s tax reform package to refute Labour strategists’ belief that ‘tax and spend’ is electorally unfeasible, demonstrating the Government is at odds with public opinion.

AB - Rachel Reeves describes the UK economy as being in its worst state since WWII, yet commits to intensifying the very policies—austerity and fiscal restraint—that created this crisis. Our Journal of Social Policy article uses Act Now‘s tax reform package to refute Labour strategists’ belief that ‘tax and spend’ is electorally unfeasible, demonstrating the Government is at odds with public opinion.

M3 - Other contribution

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CY - Newcastle Upon Tyne

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Why Labour have every reason to loosen the purse strings

Abstract

UN SDGs

Research Group keywords

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Research output

UK resident preferences on tax reform: survey-based evidence suggests support for progressive change in the run up to the 2024 General Election

Act Now: A vision for a better future and a new social contract

Impacts

Act Now: A Vision for a Better Future and a New Social Contract

Cite this