Could the UK spiral into a ‘debt doom loop’?

The IMF has upgraded its global growth forecast - so things aren’t quite as bleak as we feared. Still bleak, though.

Ed Balls and George Osborne dig into what the numbers mean for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. With spending cuts ruled out and the Autumn Budget on the horizon, the question looms: can the government afford all it has promised? George thinks Reeves is avoiding the tough calls. Ed believes tax rises may be inevitable, unless Labour is willing to flirt with more debt and borrowing.

Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has carefully negotiated an extraordinary weekend with the US President Donald Trump in Scotland, and has gone straight into a pledge to recognise the Palestinian state. What will this mean for the UK-US relationship?

And with former Sun editor David Dinsmore appointed to shake up Downing Street comms, Ed and George reflect on what his appointment signals - and the risks when the people managing the message start making headlines themselves.

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