The Chancellor’s Autumn crunch

Since his surprise promotion in March 2020, Rishi Sunak has spent his first 18 months as Chancellor in full Covid crisis mode. But as the worst of the crisis appears to be behind us, the Government has an Autumn crunch of tough decisions ahead of it – with a Spending Review and potential Budget to deliver, a recovery to strengthen, and some badly needed substance to inject into its ‘Levelling Up’, ‘Build Back Better’ and ‘Net Zero’ agendas.

What is the plan to support the recovery as emergency Covid measures are withdrawn? Will the Chancellor end austerity as he chooses public spending levels for rest of the parliament? Whose living standards will be prioritised as decisions on benefit cuts and the pensions Triple Lock are made? And will the Government resolve or duck the tough trade-offs needed to meet its Net Zero ambitions?

To mark the return of parliament, the Resolution Foundation is hosting an interactive webinar to debate and answer these questions with a stela caste of political experts. Viewers will be able to submit questions to the panel before and during the event.