Show Notes
So was that it? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy have slept on it – and are feeling the budget may have landed with a whimper rather than a bang. They weigh up the case for the defence: has John Healey played it safe to reassure the markets, keep Labour onside and give households some immediate relief on energy bills? Or has he ducked the big decisions, leaving families facing a cost-of-living squeeze and businesses distinctly underwhelmed? Plus, it’s not just Sam and Anne’s reaction. Friends of the podcast have been sending their messages as they mull it over too. And if you missed it, our full 30-minute Budget debrief with Sky News’ Economics and Data editor Ed Conway is already in your feeds, offering a deeper dive on John Healey’s statement.
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A breathing space budget or a look into a new bleak economic reality? Chancellor – John Healey - delivered a no thrills budget but with grim warnings on the economic dashboard from the Office for Budget Responsibility can he deliver the “breathing space” he wants to give people? With growth downgraded, borrowing set to rise and taxes heading for a post war high did he deliver any hope or has he simply pushed the problem down the road. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy are joined by Sky News’ Economics and Data Editor – Ed Conway – to go over the big decisions, examine what the numbers mean for households and ask if Labour still has “fresh hope for the future.” Want to ask Sam and Anne a question – email them at [email protected]
It’s budget day and it’s a critical moment for Chancellor and the UK economy. So, what are the plans to ease the squeeze on household bills and the cost-of-living crisis? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack the high-stakes decisions facing the government and how John Healey plans to raise billions in additional revenue through increasing tax. With tough choices delayed, fiscal headroom shrinking and Whitehall budgets stretched to breaking point, will this budget fix Britain’s problems or simply kick them down the road? And, will this budget reveal who really runs the government - No 11, No 10 or the markets?
It’s budget eve but can the Chancellor really deliver a ‘breathing space’ budget? With living standards under pressure, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy explore the trade-offs John Healey must balance between the cost-of-living crisis, the government’s plan for growth and whether ministers can convince voters that they’re easing the pressure. Plus, Sam heads to Doncaster-Sheffield Airport where a bold bet on devolution could deliver where the private sector failed.
At its core will this be a John Healey or Andy Burnham budget – and will it deliver any real breathing space? With the biggest fiscal event of the year looming, Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy examine some of the cabinet divisions across a range of topics including oil drilling, migration policy and a new relationship with Europe. Plus, is the Prime Minister reopening Labour’s battle over Europe and free movement? Where are the red lines for the party, Andy Burnham and the country?
Can the government find more cuts across Whitehall to fund its NATO defence commitments? With less than a week to the budget, Treasury minister – Emma Reynolds – says squeezing more efficiency out of SW1 could free up cash for defence. But with public services already under pressure, where can the cuts be made without making things worse? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy crunch the numbers, look at which sectors are already flashing the warning signs and which policies the Prime Minister could scrap to score a political win. Elsewhere, is Education Secretary – Lucy Powell – planning on making shifts in the department after a luke warm response to keeping Sir Martyn Oliver as the chief inspector of OFSTED?