Britain's Treasury chief tries to turn on the economic optimism after months of gloomy talk

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British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves has promised not to return to an era of public spending cuts despite the dire state of the U.K.’s national finances

LIVERPOOL, England — British Treasury chief Rachel Reeves promised on Monday not to return to an era of public spending cuts despite the dire state of the U.K.’s national finances, as she tried to inject a dose of optimism after weeks of negative headlines for the country’s new Labour Party government.

Reeves used a speech to Labour’s annual conference to try and reassure party members, jittery despite a recent landslide election victory, that her first budget next month won’t be all doom and gloom.

Reeves promised “there will be no return to austerity” and said the government will invest in industry, infrastructure and green energy to reverse declines in “growth, productivity and family incomes.”

Reeves, the first woman to hold the 800-year-old post of Chancellor of the Exchequer. said the government would get “shovels in the ground, cranes in the sky.”

“My optimism for Britain burns brighter than ever,” she said.

The center-left party is gathering in the northwest England port city of Liverpool three months after winning power in Britain’s July 4 election. While Labour’s return to office after 14 years in opposition has many delegates buzzing, some are anxious about the government’s faltering start and downbeat economic messaging.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer won the election on a promise to banish years of turmoil and scandal under the Conservatives, get Britain’s sluggish economy growing and restore frayed public services such as the state-funded National Health Service.

Since then, he has struck a gloomy note, saying there is a 22 billion pound ($29 billion) “black