Labour to detail wealth fund plan at start of economy-focused week

The party is keen to portray itself as a safe pair of hands in difficult economic times

Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves attends a Labour general election campaign event with British opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer at Airbus Defence and Space, in Stevenage, BrShow more

The establishment of a national wealth fund will be the highlight of a week of campaigning by the Labour Party on the economy.

Should Labour win the general election, Keir Starmer’s party has pledged to invest £7.3 billion ($9.2 billion) in the fund over the course of the next parliament, helping to create 650,000 new jobs.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce a target for the fund to unlock business investment, with a requirement to crowd in a further £3 of private sector spending for every £1 of public investment.

Its investments would include £2.5 billion to rebuild the steel industry, £1.8 billion to upgrade ports and build supply chains, and £1.5 billion in the automotive industry.

Labour says the national wealth fund is central to its green prosperity plan, delivering billions in private sector green investment to help the transition to net zero.

The plans would help to “re-industrialise” the UK with 650,000 high-quality jobs for plumbers, electricians, engineers and technicians created in the next five years across the country, according to the party.

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The task force advising Labour on how to implement its national wealth fund would be asked to report back shortly after polling day, the shadow chancellor will confirm.

The panel, set up in March, comprises leading figures from the UK’s investment and financial services sector, including former Bank of England governor Mark Carney and Barclays chief CS Venkatakrishnan.

“Labour’s plan for growth is about making Britain better off, with good jobs paying a decent wage being created right across the United Kingdom," said Ms Reeves, who is expected to make a campaign visit with Mr Starmer to promote the plans on Monday.

“The election on July 4 is a chance to deliver on that plan and to turn our economy around after 14 years of Conservative decline.

"The next Labour government will work hand in hand with the private sector to bring investment to Britain’s industrial heartlands and I have been clear that our national wealth fund will be a crucial tool in the armoury to deliver on this ambition.

“This election is about change: stability with a changed Labour party that will make you better off or five more years of chaos from the Conservatives that will mean £4,800 more on your mortgage.”

Driving economic growth was the overall focus of the manifesto Labour unveiled last week, as it sought to portray the Conservatives as the party of economic chaos.

Ms Reeves has repeatedly promised not to “play fast and loose with the public finances” as Labour attempts to shake off Tory accusations that it would “bankrupt the country”, and to show itself as a safe pair of hands in difficult economic times.