Spring Budget: the good, the bad, and the what next?

Consecutive and unpredictable global shocks — beginning with the pandemic and continuing with the energy crisis — have made forecasting the future trajectory of the economy more difficult than ever. Looking to the Spring Budget, the Chancellor will be encouraged that inflation is falling. However, some of the toughest questions around how to restore public confidence in the economy, while responding to crises across many of our public services and mitigating against a historic drop in living standards, remain unanswered. So too does the question of how to reboot long-term growth.

The Budget may have answers to some of these, but will inevitably stimulate considerable further debate. And this is all against the backdrop of a looming general election, with polling showing that, even on the economy, the Conservatives trail Labour. 

Reform is delighted to host this panel event with Richard Hughes, Chair of the OBR, Meg Hillier, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee and Ed Conway, Economics Editor of Sky News to discuss the Spring Budget and its implications for future growth, public service spending, and short- and long-term term fiscal risks.