After Macron’s bruising failure to expand spending in France, unions need to realise that Rachel Reeves may have no choice but to dial back

The prospect of a tough public sector spending review this year will cause alarm on Labour’s backbenches and an angry response from many inside the big public sector unions.

Britain could be plunged back into months of industrial action if public spending cuts include restrictions on pay. Worse, the government could come under pressure from its own MPs, wrecking Keir Starmer’s claim of providing the stability and solidity missing from UK politics since 2010.