Two days after Rachel Reeves delivered her first budget, Calum Macdonald and former No.10 special adviser Kirsty Buchanan break down what really happened — from the OBR leak, to the tax rises, to the political strategy behind one of the most controversial fiscal events in years.
Economist Simon French (Panmure Liberum) joins to assess:
• Why the markets didn’t panic
• Whether this budget really “clobbers working people”
• Why business rates may spike for pubs & hospitality
• Whether inflation could now fall faster
• If the tax pain scheduled for 2027–2029 is even credible
We also examine the biggest brewing storm:
A £6 billion black hole in Special Educational Needs (SEND) funding and the government’s unclear plan to fill it.
✨ Including discussion of welfare spending, Labour strategy, the markets, business rates, and parents’ fury over potential education cuts.
If you enjoy behind-the-scenes Westminster insights and real economic analysis, subscribe to Whitehall Sources.
","author_name":"Shortbread Media"}