Boosting productivity will be main priority of autumn budget, Reeves says

Rachel Reeves is under pressure after a year in government has yielded very little economic growth. Photograph: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Rachel Reeves has promised to use her autumn budget to prioritise fixing Britain’s dismal record on productivity as she sought to downplay mounting tax speculation with a focus on economic growth.

Setting out her priorities for the budget for the first time, the chancellor said tackling the efficiency of the economy through higher investment and a fresh assault on planning rules would form the backbone of her tax and spending plans.