Healey appoints Labour manifesto writer, adding to election speculation
News Source
β’Fri, 25 Sep 2026 16:34:13 GMT
π° What Happened
Ravinder Athwal, the economist who wrote Labour's 2024 manifesto, has joined the Treasury as a senior adviser to John Healey. He was hired from the advisory firm Flint Global. The move has sparked talk of an early general election.
Healey wants a stronger team before his first budget on 28 October. The UK economy is being hit by high oil prices and rising borrowing costs. A source close to Healey said Athwal's experience and political sense will be 'invaluable'.
Burnham denied on Friday that he plans an early election. Asked if the next vote would be in 2029, he said yes, and that he could 'knock that dead'.
π The Backstory
Athwal is a Cambridge economics graduate who helped write Keir Starmer's five 'missions'. He worked as a senior economic adviser in Starmer's Downing Street team, then left after a year. Before politics he was a Treasury civil servant.
Healey took over the Treasury in July. He faces a tight budget, with inflation and borrowing costs eating into the room he has to spend. Labour's promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT has made things harder.
π― Why It Matters
The budget decides taxes and public spending, so it affects bills, wages and services. Who advises the chancellor can shape those choices.
Ravinder Athwal, the economist who wrote Labour's 2024 manifesto, has joined the Treasury as a senior adviser to John Healey. He was hired from the advisory firm Flint Global. The move has sparked talk of an early general election.
Healey wants a stronger team before his first budget on 28 October. The UK economy is being hit by high oil prices and rising borrowing costs. A source close to Healey said Athwal's experience and political sense will be 'invaluable'.
Burnham denied on Friday that he plans an early election. Asked if the next vote would be in 2029, he said yes, and that he could 'knock that dead'.
Athwal is a Cambridge economics graduate who helped write Keir Starmer's five 'missions'. He worked as a senior economic adviser in Starmer's Downing Street team, then left after a year. Before politics he was a Treasury civil servant.
Healey took over the Treasury in July. He faces a tight budget, with inflation and borrowing costs eating into the room he has to spend. Labour's promise not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT has made things harder.
The budget decides taxes and public spending, so it affects bills, wages and services. Who advises the chancellor can shape those choices.