Chancellor Healey Appoints Labour Manifesto Writer, Fuelling Election Speculation
Economist Ravinder Athwal, who wrote Labour's 2024 manifesto, has been brought on as an adviser to Chancellor John Healey ahead of the 28 October budget.
Chancellor John Healey has appointed economist Ravinder Athwal, who worked on Labour's 2024 general election manifesto, to a senior advisory role, a move that has fuelled speculation about the possibility of an early general election.
Athwal, who previously worked as part of Keir Starmer's team, is joining Healey's operation after being poached from Flint Global, according to reporting on the appointment.
The move comes as the chancellor looks to strengthen his team ahead of a critical budget scheduled for 28 October, at a time when the UK economy is facing pressure from high oil prices and rising government borrowing costs.
Bringing on a figure closely associated with Labour's manifesto-writing process has prompted commentary about what the appointment might signal regarding the government's electoral planning, though no election announcement has been made.
The appointment adds to the broader reshaping of Healey's team as the government prepares for a budget set against a challenging economic backdrop.
Sources
- Healey appoints Labour manifesto writer, fuelling election speculation — The Guardian — World
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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