Keir Starmer is treading a narrow path. After a challenging first 100 days in government, the prime minister has an opportunity on Monday to relaunch Labour’s central mission: to restore economic growth.
In welcoming hundreds of company bosses to the London summit this week, the prime minister will be seeking to get the biggest beasts in modern capitalism behind his plan to get Britain’s economy growing at the fastest sustained rate in the G7. The bosses of Goldman Sachs, BlackRock and Google will be among those attending.in two weeks – that may not be such a bad idea.
However, there is discomfort within Labour’s ranks over the involvement of certain companies. Some firms flying in for Monday’s event have been criticised for locking Britain into a trap of high inequality. Even if they promise to invest, would the benefits be felt evenly? The prime minister could also stoke concern by offering to investors attending the summit to “do everything” in his power to galvanise growth by getting rid of red tape and regulation that “needlessly holds back investment”.Reeves’ budget targets companies, wealthy individuals and private equity executivesas the biggest upgrade in workers’ rights in a generation.