The spring budget presents the Chancellor of the Exchequer with two exciting opportunities. They can drink alcohol at the dispatch box if they choose, and they can reshape the British economy through their policies. In recent years, they have done neither.
Tipping into a recession at the end of 2023, the British economy is in a perilous state, keenly felt by those in poverty. Inflation and interest rates remain high; shopping and borrowing is expensive. Housing is scarce, and public services are on their knees.
Fundamental change is likely only to come with a new parliament, whether that’s a new party in office, or the same party with a fresh mandate. In the meantime, even long-announced policies are floundering, like the mythical ban on Section 21 evictions. In their place, we’re getting things like a
