Chancellor has practical support from party – but some unhappy with her cutspublished at 12:42 Greenwich Mean Time 26 March
Damian Grammaticas
Political correspondent
As the chancellor stands to speak she’s flanked by all the holders of the “Great Offices of State”.
There’s the prime minister, who was of course here for PMQs, the home secretary, and the foreign secretary. On top of that we have the deputy prime minister, the work and pensions secretary and others.
Moral support definitely. But also practical support too from the Labour backbenches who cheered as Keir Starmer says he has full confidence in his chancellor.
Some Labour MPs, however, are unhappy at the welfare cuts she’s pursuing, and the fact this statement today will go even further than what was announced last week.
The government insists this is important not just to make sure the welfare system is sustainable in future and but also as it’s right to who can into work.
And the chancellor is arguing, the world is presenting new challenges, which she has to rise to.