The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, says Labour is cutting NHS waiting lists, the cost of living and government debt while boosting productivity, investment and growth. But this week’s budget contained few surprises, with spending plans that had largely already been floated in the media by Starmer aides eager to prepare the public for a mediocre financial review that does next to nothing to end austerity or reverse the decline in the living standards of working people.

Sure there were some sweeteners in the Reeves budget like the scrapping of the two-child benefit cap. The state pension will rise by 4.8 percent – £440 per year – and by £575 for people on the newer pension scheme. And the national living wage and national minimum wage will also be increased.

Starmer & Co call on everyone “to make a contribution” to protect public services and help people struggling with the cost of living. But in reality workers will continue to bear the burden of the capitalist crisis in higher taxes and further cuts to what’s left of the public services.