UK Chancellor Healey hires Labour manifesto author ahead of budget, stoking election talk

UK Chancellor John Healey has appointed Ravinder Athwal, the economist who authored Labour's 2024 manifesto, as a senior adviser. The move, ahead of the critical 28 October budget, signals preparation for a possible early general election amid economic pressure from high oil prices and rising borrowing costs. The appointment is confirmed but its electoral implications remain speculative.