The Chancellor of the Exchequer vowed to stand firmly behind her fiscal plan when asked if she will need to rethink her economic strategy.

Rachel Reeves has vowed to stand firmly behind her October Budget, insisting during a trip to China the fiscal rules laid out in the papers are “non-negotiable”.

Speaking during a visit to Beijing’s flagship store of UK bicycle maker Brompton, the Chancellor refused to be drawn into a discussion on recent turbulence in the global financial markets, telling reporters she will not alter her economic plans, with the Budget designed to return the UK to economic stability.

“Growth is the number one mission of this Government,” she said.

“The fiscal rules laid out in the Budget are non-negotiable. Economic stability is the bedrock for economic growth and prosperity.”

Ms Reeves is in China in an attempt to build “common ground on trade and investment”, the Treasury said on Saturday, with the trip seen as Britain’s latest move by the Government to bolster ties with Beijing.

Following the Brompton visit, Ms Reeves joined in on a UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue meeting in Beijing with her Chinese counterpart, Vice Premier He Lifeng.

She will later travel to........

© Shropshire Star