Keir Starmer says Treasury will be ruthless on public spending cuts

Keir Starmer said he had full confidence in Rachel Reeves despite concerns among some Labour MPs over her plan to get the economy back on track. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AP

The Treasury will be “ruthless” over public spending cuts to help meet the government’s fiscal rules at this summer’s spending review, Keir Starmer has said, despite previous promises over austerity.

The prime minister said on Monday Rachel Reeves was “absolutely right” to take a tough approach to public spending after a bruising week in which the cost of government borrowing rose and the value of the pound fell.