The Observer view on the autumn budget: Labour must break this cycle of sluggish growth

There are tough decisions to be made, but living standards must improve if the economy is to be rescued‘Things will get worse before they get better.” That was the gloomy prognosis from Keir Starmer in his first set-piece speech as prime minister in the Downing Street garden last Tuesday. This was intended as a warning to voters that they can expect tough decisions in the budget this autumn.But he could also have been talking about the annual living standards outlook published by the