Does Andy Burnham know enough about AI?

Okay, let's move on, Liz.

What do you want to see in the budget?

I think there's some solid foundations to build on here.

You saw from the IMF this week that they've upgraded their growth forecasts.

They've also actually singled the UK out for getting a grip of the public finances, borrowing our deficit and our debt down.

So I think that's good foundations to build on.

I think the two critical things are this – We have got to be straining at the bit to get more growth because without that, we're not going to create the jobs to put money into people's pockets or have the money for our public services.

And I also want to see a big message about the future.

Andy is right to talk about growth in every part of the country, re-industrialisation.

And for me, the thing that links these two... and I know we'll talk about it, is AI.

Because the thing that was driving our better growth, that the IMF said, is investment in AI.

And actually, if we're going to have a re-industrialized country, AI is really the kind of steel of the future.

You know, we led on the industrial revolution.

We now need to lead on the AI revolution.

And I think we have this really important window of opportunity in this government to kind of seize this technology and make it work for all.

That message about the future is very important.

I'm going to come on to AI, but before we do, just in terms of you've talked about growth and the importance of growth.

With that in mind...

I

mean, I would have argued this under...

I know, I don't think you're saying anything to me that you wouldn't have said actually when you were Secretary of State.

But in terms of growth, there were £62 billion of tax rises in the past two budgets.

Are you saying that Healy really needs to stop raising taxes, stop increasing public spending and just actually rein it in and focus on growth?

I absolutely believe that.

We have got to double down on our strategy for growth in this country, that we cannot tax and borrow our way out the problems that we're in.