Rachel Reeves is a middle manager posing as chancellor

UK chancellor Rachel Reeves exemplifies the managerial politician to her core.

She doesn’t make decisions so much as follow rules and procedures authored by experts.

She deferred to the experts at the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) The spring statement itself seemed to have been partially authored by the OBR , with its forecasts for slower economic growth and higher public expenditure.

Productivity’ isn’t like a horse that responds to exhortations, says Phil Mullan .

Attaining steady growth rates of two per cent or more again will require a lot more than easing planning rules and a modest increase in military spending.

Our elected leaders need to come clean with the electorate, he says.