Ex-Corbyn adviser breaks down Rachel Reeves' spending review | Andrew Fisher interview

Former Labour director of policy Andrew Fisher offers a detailed and critical analysis of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Spending Review. Drawing on his experience at the heart of Labour’s policy-making under Jeremy Corbyn, Fisher dissects the key announcements, separating political spin from economic reality.

Fisher welcomes some positive steps — including the government’s plans to expand housing stock, invest in social and affordable housing, and tackle the UK’s deepening housing crisis. He acknowledges these as necessary moves that reflect long-standing demands for a more interventionist approach to the housing market.

However, Fisher argues that many of the measures in the review are simply rollbacks of bad policies introduced since Labour got into power last year — and questions whether they go far enough to address systemic inequality and underinvestment. In his view, the Spending Review marks a shift in tone, but lacks the boldness required to meet the scale of the crisis.

One of his central critiques is Labour’s approach to taxation. Fisher makes the case for raising corporation tax as a more progressive and effective way to generate revenue. He warns that current tax plans leave loopholes open for exploitation and do little to tackle wealth inequality or corporate profiteering. Without a more ambitious fiscal strategy, Fisher argues, the UK risks sliding into further economic stagnation.

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