Rachel Reeves: New Chancellor.

One remembers the cuts to services under 14 years of Conservative government. These cuts largely hit the poorest in society and were usually services people depended on. The new Labour government said there will be no return to austerity under their watch.

That said, Rachel Reeves the new chancellor has announced some cuts. She has defended these cuts blaming the last government. The Tory government according to Ms. Reeves, promised much but never announced where the money was coming from. This has left a "mess" for the new chancellor to clear up. As Sir Keir said in one of his keynote speeches or statements the previous government had left the Tories a mountain of mess to deal with.

In getting the nation's finances back on track Ms. Reeves announced a raft of cuts. Starting with pensioners who receive Pension Credit. They will no longer receive the extra money to help them. Ms. Reeves will be looking at plans to charge over adult social care. Also, other policies of the Tories. Such as Boris Johnson's plan to build 40 new hospitals. Also, the plan to bring back in service inactive railway lines. These policies will either be scrapped or reviewed under Rachel Reeves.

Ms. Reeves will be asking all government departments to find savings worth an estimated £3 billion. Her counterpart Shadow Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has refuted the new chancellor's cuts. Ms. Reeves branded Hunt a liar. Hunt has hit back and the row between these two politicians will continue.

Some have labelled the chancellor's cuts austerity 2.0. Are they though? This government has said from the start it would have to make tough decisions. Decisions that Labour has admitted will make them some enemies. Such as building more houses even if that means building in green belt areas. No doubt, many residents in rural areas will be up in arms. Forming committees and campaigning to halt any new houses being built. I can understand residents in peaceful, green areas, taking these stands. It wouldn't be the first time that residents have stood in the way of destroying natural areas of beauty. On the other hand, there is a profound housing stock shortage. The population has grown over the 14 years of the last government. Not necessarily because the birthrate has increased but that could be one factor. With various waves of migrants and immigrants coming in the population of the UK has increased exponentially. So the government will have to build more houses for good or for ill.

Going back to Rachel Reeve's acclamation that the Tories are to blame for the financial mess we are in. If indeed, the Tories did this to fix that and that to fix this Rachel may have a point. It's fine to announce stunning and shiny policies but in the cold, hard, reality of the world, where is the money coming from to enable these things? This government will operate very differently from the previous one. As she noted, if the money is not in the kitty, it cannot be done. Either to be shelved forever or parked until the money is available.

As chancellor, it is Rachel's job to save money and if that involves scrapping or scaling back things, so be it. Jeremy Hunt has accused the government of laying the groundwork to raise taxes. Maybe that is the plan, for those with broader shoulders, who earn the most, to pay more taxes. Ms. Reeves has set herself a target of saving £1 billion by the end of the year.

Let us hope that Rachel Reeves is on the right track. That she balances the books correctly and the nation ends up in a place where it should be for the better.