Andrew Dickens: We're inching towards a healthier position

Early Edition with Ryan Bridge · May 28, 2026 · 2m · transcript

The Budget is out, and the Government’s done what it can with the pickle we’re in.

Put simply, we don’t collect enough tax to pay for the services we run and the people we employ.

There are only two fixes: either collect more tax — the left’s answer, though the last left Government didn’t have the guts to raise taxes, even while increasing spending. Or cut services and staff — which is this Government’s preference.

But cuts hit confidence. When the private sector loses heart, tax revenue drops even further. And remember: Government is only 40% of the economy. Our real future depends on the…