UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces backlash over rising unemployment and economic stagnation linked to her fiscal policies.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves faces growing criticism over rising unemployment, now at 5.2% and projected to reach 5.5%, with job losses in retail and hospitality linked to National Insurance hikes, minimum wage increases, and higher business rates. Critics accuse her policies of pushing economic activity underground, citing a £3.15 billion tax shortfall from illicit tobacco and a rise in informal work. The Office for Budget Responsibility’s upcoming fiscal assessment will be closely watched amid concerns over economic stagnation, with GDP flatlining and youth unemployment at 16%. Reeves’ economic strategy, influenced by figures like Torsten Bell, aims to boost productivity but is seen by opponents as harming small businesses and young workers.