UK’s Reeves says growth is key as she prepares to set out budget

LONDON (Reuters) -British finance minister Rachel Reeves said on Tuesday economic growth was the best way out of the country’s challenges, in a speech setting out her thinking ahead of the November 26 budget.

“In the end, growth is the best way out of the challenges that we face,” Reeves, in a rare pre-budget speech, said when asked whether she would break Labour’s manifesto pledges or raise taxes to meet fiscal goals.

“I’ve set all that out. But if you’re asking me, what comes first, the national interest or political expediency, it’s national interest every single time.”

(Reporting by Sarah Young, writing by Sam Tabahriti, Editing by Kate Holton)