The Government has increased the size of the state and it needs to reduce the number of civil servants, according to Shadow Treasury Minister Gareth Davies.
He told GB News: “I think it's good that they're looking to reduce the size of the state. Of course it is. And when in government, we look to increase productivity, investing in technology to do so.
“However, I should point out that Labour is starting from a higher base than when they came into office. They're increasing spending by £70 billion extra per year, and the state is forecast to increase to 44% of GDP by the end of the decade.
“They're actually increasing the size of the state, not decreasing it. But look, the sentiment is right, and we wish them well.
“Take the Civil Service. You're right to point out that during the pandemic, it did increase. Of course it did. We had more people working to support the economy, to support businesses, and the size of the state increased in terms of spending during the pandemic as well. Of course it did.
“And I remember doing lots of interviews at the time and people challenging me that it wasn't enough, but that needs to come down. We're not in a pandemic situation right now. We're not in a crisis. The country is not facing the challenges that we face during that pandemic.
“So, it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service. You remember, before the election, we laid out some very serious and clear plans to reduce the Civil Service. Labour needs to do the same.
“Wasn't that long ago, they were advocating for the four-day week for the Civil Service, and actually this is a positive step today for the Prime Minister, but the state is increasing. It's important to point that fact out.”
On the tariffs imposed on the UK by the USA, he said: “What we are urging the government to do is rapidly engage with the US president and the US administration on a free trade agreement.
“We worked on this when Donald Trump was in power the first term, we made great progress, and it got sidelined by Joe Biden, but he has an opportunity, I think, to engage with President Trump and make some progress towards an FTA.
“That is the solution for our economy to avoid these tariffs going forward.”
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He told GB News: “I think it's good that they're looking to reduce the size of the state. Of course it is. And when in government, we look to increase productivity, investing in technology to do so.
“However, I should point out that Labour is starting from a higher base than when they came into office. They're increasing spending by £70 billion extra per year, and the state is forecast to increase to 44% of GDP by the end of the decade.
“They're actually increasing the size of the state, not decreasing it. But look, the sentiment is right, and we wish them well.
“Take the Civil Service. You're right to point out that during the pandemic, it did increase. Of course it did. We had more people working to support the economy, to support businesses, and the size of the state increased in terms of spending during the pandemic as well. Of course it did.
“And I remember doing lots of interviews at the time and people challenging me that it wasn't enough, but that needs to come down. We're not in a pandemic situation right now. We're not in a crisis. The country is not facing the challenges that we face during that pandemic.
“So, it is right that we reduce the size of the Civil Service. You remember, before the election, we laid out some very serious and clear plans to reduce the Civil Service. Labour needs to do the same.
“Wasn't that long ago, they were advocating for the four-day week for the Civil Service, and actually this is a positive step today for the Prime Minister, but the state is increasing. It's important to point that fact out.”
On the tariffs imposed on the UK by the USA, he said: “What we are urging the government to do is rapidly engage with the US president and the US administration on a free trade agreement.
“We worked on this when Donald Trump was in power the first term, we made great progress, and it got sidelined by Joe Biden, but he has an opportunity, I think, to engage with President Trump and make some progress towards an FTA.
“That is the solution for our economy to avoid these tariffs going forward.”
WATCH ABOVE.
Find Out More...