“In this changing world, Britain is not powerless,” she will say. “We can shape our own future. Our method is stability, investment, and reform – through an active and strategic state.<\/p>\n
“Today, I am making three big choices on the greatest growth opportunities for Britain in the decade to come: growth in every part of Britain, AI and innovation, and a deeper relationship with the EU.”<\/p>\n
But the Conservatives have said it’s her economic policies, not the departure from the EU that they oversaw, that’s caused the economy to stagnate.<\/p>\n
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride accused the chancellor and prime minister of wanting “to row back on Brexit”.<\/p>\n
“Labour are desperate to blame anyone but themselves for their economic failures,” he added.<\/p>\n
More on Artificial Intelligence<\/p>\n
“Under increasing pressure, having mismanaged the economy, Reeves would rather point the finger at Brexit than accept their poor choices have been a disaster for our economy.”<\/p>\n
\n OBR’s GDP growth forecast\n <\/p>\n
2026: 1.1% (decreased from 1.4%)<\/p>\n
2027: 1.6% (increased from 1.5%)<\/p>\n
2028: 1.6% (increased from 1.5%)<\/p>\n
2029: 1.5% (unchanged)<\/p>\n
2030: 1.5% (unchanged)<\/p>\n
Ms Reeves’s lecture comes following anaemic growth figures. The economy didn’t grow at all in January, and only by 0.2% in the three months prior.<\/p>\n
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) downgraded its growth forecast<\/a> for 2026 a fortnight ago – although it is forecast to grow slightly quicker than previously expected in 2027 and 2028.<\/p>\n Ministers are also grappling with the economic consequences of the Iran war<\/a>, which threatens to push up energy prices and inflation if the conflict continues for much longer.<\/p>\n Share<\/p>\n \n ‘Certainly not good for the British economy’: Reeves on Iran war\n <\/p>\n Ms Reeves has regularly spoken about the need for closer ties with the EU. She discussed the prospect with Ireland’s finance minister, Simon Harris, on Monday.<\/p>\n But on AI, the chancellor will say the UK must “chart our own course”.<\/p>\n Reeves: We face a choice on AI<\/p>\n “AI is the defining technology of our era,” Ms Reeves will say. “The choice is this: we can bury our heads in the sand and leave it to other countries – whose values may differ from ours – to shape and own this technology.<\/p>\n “We can leave it to the market alone, and let the balance of risk and reward be determined by a super-wealthy few. Or we can chart our own course.”<\/p>\n She wants the UK to achieve the fastest adoption of AI in the G7 group of wealthy nations.<\/p>\n The chancellor will commit \u00a3500m to back the most promising AI companies in the UK – plus a \u00a31bn investment in commercial-scale quantum computers.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/skynews-racheal-reeves-oil_7188755.jpg\")
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