Labour sets outs ‘emergency budget’ for public services
John McDonnell pledges to spend an extra £17bn a year on the NHS, social care, schools and local government

A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
Labour’s shadow chancellor has called for an end to austerity and an “emergency budget for public services” in a speech laying out the party’s economic platform ahead of the Budget next week.
John McDonnell said Chancellor Philip Hammond was out of touch with the lives of ordinary people who are increasingly angry after seven years of cuts.
“They were told austerity was the solution to the economic crisis,” he said. “So it’s understandable that after seven years of the austerity solution, they are angry when they queue for hours at A&E, see their school laying off teaching assistants, their Surestart centre closing and the local neighbourhood police withdrawn from their streets.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Promising to spend an extra £17bn a year on the NHS, social care, schools and local government, McDonnell sought to paint the Tories as the party of tax avoidance by citing the recent Paradise Papers revelations.
He said extra spending under Labour would be paid for by tax rises for companies and “the rich”, which led to accusations Labour “would have to drive up Britain’s debts to balance the books”, says the London Evening Standard.
A week before the budget, McDonnell “wants to create a clear red line between him and the present incumbent of Number 11”, says the BBC’s Kamal Ahmed.
McDonnell has said he’s willing to borrow more to invest in infrastructure, arguing it’s a good time to do so as interest rates are at historic lows. The Conservatives claim more borrowing would lead to more debt, higher taxes and fewer jobs.
Austerity linked to 120,000 deaths
The shadow chancellor’s call for an end to public sector cuts carries added resonance after a study by UCL and Cambridge University academics linked austerity policies to more than 120,000 deaths over the past seven and half years.
Real-term funding for health and social care has fallen dramatically since David Cameron came to power in 2010. The researchers conclude this “may have produced” the substantial increase in deaths. They specifically highlighted the sharp increase in mortality after 2010, compared with the steady decline from 2001 to 2010.
The paper, published by BMJ Open, says there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years after cuts began than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-2010 levels.
Based on those trends it predicted 152,141 extra deaths between 2015 and 2020 – 100 a day – which one of the authors likened to “economic murder”.
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
Seasonal attire
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
The daily gossip: Sophie Turner sues Joe Jonas for 'immediate return' of their kids, 'Euphoria' star Angus Cloud's cause of death revealed, and more
The daily gossip: September 21, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Romney's seat
Cartoons
By The Week Staff Published
-
Will Rishi Sunak's green wedge issue win over the public?
Today's Big Question The PM draws dividing line with Labour on net zero ahead of the next general election
By Sorcha Bradley Published
-
Industry backlash as Sunak set to water down green pledges
Speed Read Automotive and energy bosses look for clarity after PM backs away from UK net zero goal
By Arion McNicoll Published
-
October by-elections: what's at stake for Labour, Lib Dems and Tories
Parties will contest two former safe Tory seats on 19 October, putting pressure on Rishi Sunak
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Jobs for the boys: does the UK need a minister for men?
Conservative MP calls for dedicated cabinet role to combat 'crisis' in men's mental health and education
By Harriet Marsden Published
-
Left out: is this the end for Labour’s Corbynites?
Talking Point Diane Abbott’s comments on racism could have wider implications for the future of Labour’s left-wing
By Felicity Capon Published
-
The new Windsor framework: Rishi Sunak’s Brexit deal explained in five points
feature PM reaches agreement with EU over new Northern Ireland trading arrangements
By Sorcha Bradley Last updated
-
The crackdown on golden visa schemes
feature Government aims to close ‘backdoor route’ into Britain for criminals who exploit visa-waiver agreements with other countries
By Richard Windsor Published
-
Sturgeon’s exit: does SNP leader leave Scotland a better place?
Talking Point Outgoing leader dominated Scottish life but had her star status began to fade away?
By The Week Staff Published