We've got a three piece red suit Christmas special: Darren Jones unwraps Labour's spending review, Sir Keir Starmer juggles roasted chestnuts, and Rachel Reeves is hoping for a fiscal miracle
Read all about it in this week's Who's Top Who's Not!
Top – Darren Jones
Labour poster boy Darren Jones has landed a pivotal role this week, announcing he will lead the Treasury’s Spending Review to examine how taxpayers’ money is being used. From scrutinising the country’s accounts line by line to touring the UK, Jones’ mission is to assess spending efficiency and propose smarter investments for the future. It’s a move that may even prompt sceptics to think, ‘this government is finally doing something right.’
This initiative not only positions Jones as a politician literally listening to the public but also bolsters Labour’s image as a party addressing a core frustration: taxpayers’ money being wasted or poorly allocated. By spearheading the first zero-based review in 17 years, Jones underscores how Labour hopes to break from the status quo.
For the Conservatives, this review presents a political dilemma. Having criticised government spending for years but achieved little change, they are left with limited options but to endorse the process—a tacit admission of their shortcomings. Labour, in turn, gains a powerful narrative to expose Conservative mismanagement while showcasing itself as the party of fiscal responsibility and reform.
The Spending Review could redefine the debate on public finances, giving Labour an edge while forcing the Conservatives to confront their record. For the electorate, this promises to be a litmus test of whether bold promises will translate into real progress.
Middle – Sir Keir Starmer
This week, Prime Minister Starmer played firefighter, tackling issues of his predecessors' decisions and his own, while also attending his first Liaison Committee hearing. Unsurprisingly, his Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) was dominated by the ongoing WASPI issue, which was inherited from previous governments. Starmer was uncomfortable with the decision not to give them compensation and had to navigate this politically sensitive matter carefully. His handling of this issue was painful, but the narrative of putting the taxpayers first was perhaps the only response he could have put forward without caving in.
What was also surprising was that despite this, Kemi Badenoch was not able to make any real impact. Maybe this is because – as some pundits have said – she is too close to the old regime, and an attack on the WASPI decision would only be re-directed back at her.
At the Liaison Committee, Starmer was grilled by his own MPs, including Dame Meg Hillier and Liam Byrne, on his strategy for growth and inflation. Despite the intense questioning, he presented a macro-economic plan, trying to project leadership and direction.
Bottom – Rachel Reeves
It’s been a challenging week for Rachel Reeves, who has once again found herself under scrutiny as inflation rises, with economic experts attributing much of the blame to the Autumn Budget.
While other countries are beginning to ease interest rates, the Bank of England chose to hold rates steady amid rising inflation, which has now reached 2.6%. Critics have seized on this development, introduced concerns about ‘stagflation’ —a scenario where high inflation coincides with low growth. This economic backdrop has intensified the spotlight on Reeves and her handling of the Treasury brief.
Despite the criticism, Reeves has remained steadfast in her approach, emphasising the importance of long-term economic stability over short-term fixes—a stance that works well with the idea inflation was the fault of the previous government. Still, with Christmas around the corner, Rachel will be hoping that Santa will deliver a sackful of economic growth – hope she’s on the nice list!