Project

Budget 2026

John Healey's first budget as chancellor will be the biggest indication yet of the priorities of Andy Burnham's government.

06 OCT 2026

On Wednesday 28 October, John Healey will deliver his first budget as chancellor. This will be the biggest indication yet of the priorities of Andy Burnham's government and of how it will approach the public finances. Alongside the budget, the government will publish the Office for Budget Responsibility's latest economic and fiscal forecasts. These are the first OBR forecasts since the war in Iran led to rising global energy prices and will set out the challenging economic context which the government faces.

In the run-up to the budget, follow the IfG's expert team for more detail about the decisions the chancellor needs to make and how he should use the budget to support the government's wider goals.

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How John Healey should approach tax in his first budget

The chancellor and PM need to show that they have a convincing, coherent and deliverable plan for the rest of the parliamentary term (and beyond) and introduce a budget that is consistent with those ambitions. This should come with a clear tax strategy.

Read the report