Chatting to Chancellors

The nature of British economic policy, and the Treasury’s role in directing it, have ebbed and flowed over the past 25 years. Monetary policy was ceded to the Bank of England in 1997, but the Treasury then extended its grip over domestic policy. The last decade has seen it respond to two once-in-a-lifetime economic crises, oversee a period of austerity, and play a key role in the Brexit debate. The Treasury – and the Chancellors who have led it – have not had a quiet quarter of a century.

How has British economic policy evolved in recent decades? What evolution have we seen to the role of the Treasury, and has this led to better or worse policy outcomes? To what extent is this about institutions or the personality of the Chancellor? And what can we learn from the Treasury’s recent record, as Britain looks to drastically improve its economic record over the coming decade?

To debate and answer these questions, the Resolution Foundation and Society for Professional Economists are hosting a joint event to mark the launch of a new book by Howard Davies, The Chancellors: Steering the British Economy in Crisis Times, who has had leading roles at key economic institutions ranging from the Bank to the Treasury, the CBI and the LSE. The work draws on interviews with most recent Chancellors and Howard will be joined at the event by former Chancellor George Osborne.

The event will be open for people to physically attend, alongside being broadcast via YouTube and the Resolution Foundation website. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event via Slido.