This week’s Budget is Rishi Sunak’s third – but the first he’s undertaken outside of firefighting mode. What can we expect? Will Sunak be able to finally put some meat on the bare bones of levelling up? How much room to manoeuvre does he have in the midst of crises on the cost of living, staffing and productivity? And what should he do for small business?

Our special guests for this special edition are SONIA KHAN, former special advisor to Sajid Javid; and CRAIG BEAUMONT from the Federation of Small Businesses. 

This budget preview edition is supported by the Federation of Small Businesses. Find out more at www.fsb.org.uk 

* “Even if we get back to a pre-pandemic economy, that wasn’t so rosy… Unless we get a step change in productivity it’s not going to feel like the Roaring Twenties.” – TOM POPE

* “When Chancellors deliver growth or investment, it’s often the Chancellor after them that reaps the credit.” – SONIA KHAN

* “Small businesses have had a torrid 18 months and they’re expecting a torrid autumn-winter… We’ve lost over 400,000 small businesses.” – CRAIG BEAUMONT

* “We’re seeing Sunak shake off his Mr Nice Guy image… We’re seeing the start of the definition of what he’s about.” – SONIA KHAN

* “The economy is smaller than it was for small businesses and the recovery looks like it’s running out of steam.” – GRAHAM ATKINS

Presented by Gemma Tetlow with Tom Pope of the IfG. Audio production by Alex Rees. Inside Briefing is a Podmasters Production for the IfG. 

https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk 

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices