Rachel Reeves claimed to be making “three big choices” on growth on Tuesday. These are, first, to promote growth “in every part of Britain”; second, to champion innovation, especially artificial intelligence; and third, to foster “a deeper relationship with the European Union”.
The first two choices are, to be blunt, padding. Every government since the slow deindustrialisation of Britain began has been committed rhetorically to spreading the benefits of growth from the most prosperous parts of the country. Regional policy has never worked, and this government’s attempts are unlikely to be an exception.
