RACHEL Reeves today refused to follow Sir Keir Starmer in declaring herself a socialist.
The Shadow Chancellor instead said she was a “social democrat” in a cautious attempt to not spook business bosses.
ReutersRachel Reeves refused to call herself a socialist in a major speech today[/caption]
But it could spark a rift row after the Labour leader branded himself a proud comrade following pressure from the party’s left flank.
Pressed today whether she would also define as a socialist, Ms Reeves said: “I’ve always called myself a social democrat.
“And what I mean by that is that I believe that children from whatever background they come from should get an equal start in life to the opportunities that our country offers.
“I believe in strong public services to support people all through their lives, from the cradle to the grave.
“And I believe that work should always pay and offer security to people. So that’s how I would describe myself but instead of fixating on labels.”
Labour has been walking a tightrope trying to claw back support from City firms while also keeping their union backers and grassroots happy.
Ms Reeves has been schmoozing bosses in a series of breakfast meetings dubbed the “smoked salmon offensive”.
Speaking at the Rolls Royce factory in Derby today, she insisted Labour is now “the natural party of business”.
But the wannabe Chancellor refused to unfreeze income tax thresholds that have been dragging millions more workers into paying higher rates.
She said: “We want taxes to come down but we can’t announce those reductions in tax unless we say where the money is going to come from. And that is the crucial difference between Labour and the Conservatives.”
Yet in her first big speech of the election campaign she identified income tax and national insurance as her preferences for tax cuts if she manages to get the funding.
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