Rachel Reeves sticks to script and saves big changes for next month’s budget

Conference speech was light on detail and not the pivot away from doom and gloom that critics wanted

• Reeves defends Labour's cut to winter fuel allowance

Rachel Reeves had a difficult balancing act. Between offering up a message of optimism for Britain as a chancellor elected on a platform of change in July's election landslide, and holding back the big news for next month's budget.

Facing criticism that she may have overdone a doom-and-gloom-laden approach on the economy as she paves the way for the painful" tax and spending event on 30 October, Reeves's speech in Liverpool on Monday was an opportunity for a reset.