Healey pledges to ‘draw line’ under rising business costs in push for growth

Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey delivers a speech on economic growth at at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry, as he unveils a �150 million fund for fast-growing northern firms. Picture date: Monday September 7, 2026. - (PA Wire)

Chancellor John Healey promised to “draw a line” under rising costs for businesses, end legal blockages to building infrastructure and embrace technology as part of a push for growth.

He also promised to control Government spending in his first major speech since taking over at the Treasury, but refused to rule out tax rises in next month’s Budget.