Budget 2026: What do John Healey’s choices mean for the economy and the government?

Inside Briefing with the Institute for Government · Oct 28, 2026 · 54m

John Healey’s first budget as chancellor on 28 October was a huge moment for Andy Burnham’s government.

A difficult fiscal inheritance, made more challenging still by the war in Iran, means Healey and Burnham faced a series of tough choices.

So what will the chancellor’s spending decisions reveal about the government’s priorities? Will he send a clear signal about the future tax changes that are – or are not – on the table? Can Healey and Burnham show that they are capable of taking the difficult decisions facing government? And will they avoid mistakes made by Keir Starmer and former…