The Spending Review 2025: Capital Growth and Financial Credibility

In this second episode of Negotiating Government, the podcast from Negotient, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury David Gauke and former Senior Treasury spending official John Hall delve into the 2025 spending review, exploring the government's strategic choices and the challenges they face in balancing fiscal responsibility with urgent public service needs.

They discuss the significant increase in capital for defence and green energy; the wider implications for economic growth and public services; whether the Government is really getting the full benefit of its new fiscal rules; and, how the changes to the 'green book' rules against which investment decisions are judged might shift decision making into the future. Plus, should we prepare for the tax burden - already at an all-time post-war high - to get heavier still??