60 leading economists back Labour's plan on spending - 8am, February 19th

8am

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

* More than 60 leading economists have written a letter backing Labour’s decision to avoid spending cuts until next year.

* In a speech later today, Gordon Brown will call on the centre-left to unite behind Labour.

* The Tories have “shattered” political consensus over the planned high speed rail link from London to Birmingham.

* Harriet Harman leaned on the expenses watchdog to suppress revelations about MPs’ expenses, the Sun claims.

* Sir Thomas Legg has apologised to Huw Irranca-Davies for accusing him of owing for expense claims.

* The Treasury borrowed £4.3 billion last month – after a record slump in tax receipts.

* Tory MP Nicholas Winterton has said people in standard class on trains are a “different type of people” to those who travel in first class.

* In YouGov’s daily tracker poll, the Tory lead has been trimmed to 7%.

Alex Smith

Alex is the founder and CEO of The Cares Family. He was editor and first director of LabourList in 2009-2010, during which time he established the site as the number one Labour blog, and later an aide to Ed Miliband.

View all articles by Alex Smith

‘Britain needs a truly independent nuclear deterrent – Labour should deliver it’

As the war with Iran continues, the Greenland Crisis that came before it has started to fade from…

Andrew Noakes

21st March, 2026, 2:00 pm

News

Where do Labour’s factions stand on the ongoing war in Iran?

Labour MPs from across the party’s ideological spectrum have begun to make their positions clear on the ongoing…

Daniel Green

20th March, 2026, 2:00 pm

60 leading economists back Labour’s plan on spending – 8am, February 19th

Alex Smith

More from LabourList

‘Britain needs a truly independent nuclear deterrent – Labour should deliver it’

‘I know first-hand how Access to Work can help disabled people – here’s why this government should back it’

Where do Labour’s factions stand on the ongoing war in Iran?