The Story How To Stop A Spending Review Revolt
Jun 6, 2025
Danny Finkelstein, a Times columnist and former political advisor, joins Polly McKenzie, a public policy expert, and Sally Morgan, a former Labour insider, to dissect the intricate dance of spending reviews in government. They discuss the Tories' newfound economic strategy and the lingering shadows of the Liz Truss legacy. The trio navigates the challenges of austerity versus fiscal consolidation, the importance of public trust, and the political maneuvering necessary to keep reluctant ministers aligned amidst fiscal pressures.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Complexity Of Winter Fuel Payments
- Winter fuel payments have been a politically difficult long-standing benefit to reverse.
- They started as a response to pension increases but evolved into a costly, blunt mechanism rather than targeted spending.
Ministers Facing Budget Protests
- During Gordon Brown's tenure, defence ministers publicly protested budget cuts by military leaders.
- Police also used media to pressure government budget decisions, sometimes exaggerating crisis.
Purpose Of Spending Reviews
- Spending reviews set government baselines for departmental budgets over multiple years.
- They help control public finances and shape political messaging on spending priorities and austerity.