London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Sep 24, 2026

Jeremy Hunt has no plan for growth, says CBI boss

Jeremy Hunt has no plan for growth, says CBI boss

The chancellor's Autumn Statement offered no plan to revive economic growth, the head of the UK's biggest business lobby group has told the BBC.

Tony Danker from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said Jeremy Hunt had instead prioritised stability.

Mr Danker said that without higher growth, the UK would not afford the growing cost of health and social care.

Health Secretary Steve Barclay said that "high growth" industries would benefit from post-Brexit freedoms.

In his Autumn Statement last week, Mr Hunt laid out £55bn of spending cuts and tax rises aimed at bringing down soaring prices while protecting public services.

At the same time, the government's economic forecaster warned households would see their biggest drop in living standards on record in the next few years as living costs surged and the country fell into recession.

Speaking on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Danker said Mr Hunt's statement had been "all about fighting inflation and getting the government budget in some decent shape and that does need to be done".

But he added that "there was really nothing there that tells us the economy is going to avoid another decade of low productivity and low growth".

"Jeremy Hunt did some things which will be very welcome, but he also made businesses and everybody pay more taxes and so the fear is there just wasn't enough there to turn round and say, 'we can grow again'," he said.

"So I don't think he did enough, I think he is going to have to come back with more."

Tony Danker, head of the CBI lobby group

Mr Hunt's Autumn Statement was in large part designed to reassure financial markets after the controversy sparked by his predecessor's mini-budget in September.

Kwasi Kwarteng promised major tax cuts to boost growth, but the unfunded plans spooked investors and caused government borrowing costs to spike.

Mr Danker, who initially welcomed elements of the former chancellor's plans, told the BBC that the tax cuts had clearly backfired.

However, he said some of Mr Kwarteng's other proposals - such as relaxing immigration, regulation and planning laws - needed to be looked at again.

The CBI, which represents 190,000 UK businesses, will see its annual conference kick off on Monday.


Lagged behind


The UK economy has lagged behind those of other developed nations since the pandemic and is expected to be in recession all of next year.

Part of the problem is global, with energy and food prices soaring this year due to the war in Ukraine and Covid.

But the UK also faces significant labour supply challenges, while it is more difficult for small businesses to trade with Europe or access the talent they need due to Brexit.

On Sunday, the government denied a report that senior officials want to move to a Swiss-style trading relationship with the European Union to boost growth.

Switzerland has access to the EU single market but must pay into the EU budget, although any such deal would not mean a return to freedom of movement, the Sunday Times reported.

A government spokesman called the reports "categorically untrue".

Mr Barclay, the former Brexit secretary, told Laura Kuenssberg the UK would not give up "autonomy" over its money, laws and regulation.

He said this freedom would create new opportunities for high-growth industries such as green energy, digital, financial services and life sciences.

"We've protected the research and development budget increase up to £20bn," Mr Barclay added, defending Mr Hunt's wider plans. "We've got £600bn of infrastructure investment. We are seizing the greater opportunities of our freedoms through Brexit."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Piddington Residents Back Symbolic Independence Vote Over Asylum Accommodation Plan
Reform UK Names Helen Jenner as New Leader in Wales
England Expands Devolution of Transport, Skills and Economic Development Powers
Liberal Democrats Call for Temporary Fuel Duty Cut to Ease Cost-of-Living Pressure
UK Farmers Warn Drought Has Caused Crop Failures and Reduced Harvests
UK Fixed Mortgage Rates Approach 6% as Lenders Raise Borrowing Costs
YouGov Poll Puts Labour at 23% With Conservatives and Reform UK on 21%
Badenoch Presses Burnham to Increase Defence Spending and Cut Welfare Costs
UK Military Figures Warn of Growing Threats to Undersea Infrastructure and National Readiness
BP Moves Ahead With Sale of UK North Sea Oil and Gas Business
UK and ASEAN Endorse New Framework for Trade and Economic Cooperation
UK Consumer Confidence Falls to Three-Year Low as Borrowing Costs and Job Concerns Rise
UK Inflation Rises to 3.1% as Motor Fuel Costs Push Prices Higher
Bank of England Sets Multi-Year Plan to Wind Down Quantitative Easing Holdings
UK Borrowing Rises to £18.3 Billion in August Ahead of October Budget
Michelin Guide Faces Industry Questions Over Restaurant Inspection Coverage
English Woodlands Face Renewed Weather Stress From Dry Conditions and Strong Winds
Research Finds Extensive Alcohol, Gambling and Unhealthy Food Branding During 2026 World Cup
Five Charged After Newborn Baby Dies From Stab Wounds in Sheffield
BT Could Reap £2 Billion From Recycling Copper as Full-Fibre Network Expands
FCA Urges Young Adults to Trace £1.5 Billion in Unclaimed Child Trust Funds
Reform UK Names Helen Jenner as New Leader in Wales After Dan Thomas Steps Down
Resolution Foundation Calls for Broad-Based Tax Rises to Fund Higher UK Defence Spending
Ed Davey Calls for Global Treaty to Halt Development of Super-Intelligent AI
Scotland Consults on Legal Price Caps for Essential Foods
NHS Productivity Reforms Could Prevent More Than 20,000 Early Deaths a Year, Report Says
United Kingdom and ASEAN Deepen Trade and Investment Cooperation
United Kingdom Deploys RAF Refuelling Support to Saudi Arabia After Houthi Attacks
UK Fiscal Headroom Shrinks as Higher Borrowing Costs Complicate Autumn Budget
UK Public Borrowing Jumps to £18.3 Billion in August, Raising Pressure Before Budget
Andy Burnham Reaffirms UK Net-Zero Target With £30 Million Community Energy Fund
Scottish Labour Leader Backs Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea Projects
UK Consumer Confidence Falls to Three-Year Low
UK Diesel Prices Approach £2 a Litre as Global Supply Shortages Intensify
Chiltern Railways Returns to Public Ownership as UK Rail Nationalisation Advances
British Museum Faces Questions Over Peter Thiel’s Private Bayeux Tapestry Viewing
Earl Spencer Memoir Excerpts Renew Public Debate Over Diana’s Death
Liberal Democrats Gather in Brighton for Autumn Conference
Mothercare Shares Plunge as Middle East Store Closures Threaten Long-Term Solvency
Kent Police Treat Folkestone Hotel Fire as Suspicious
Caribbean Governments Advance Reparations Campaign Seeking Engagement With Britain
Scottish Labour Leader Backs Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea Projects
FCA Urges Young Adults to Trace £1.5 Billion in Unclaimed Child Trust Funds
UK Competition Regulator Opens Inquiry Into McCormick-Unilever Foods Deal
Public Inquiry Into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Mental Health Failings Set to Begin
Nigel Farage Looks to US Immigration Enforcement Model for UK Border Policy
Chiltern Railways Moves Into Public Ownership
Security Review Raises Concerns Over Sensitive UK Police Data Stored on Microsoft Cloud
Burnham Government Warns of Difficult Autumn Budget as Fiscal Headroom Narrows
Bank of England Holds Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Rises to 3.1%
×