Burnham’s Budget balancing act

About this episode

Andy Burnham’s chancellor John Healey delivered his maiden budget on Wednesday. With ballooning debt, poor growth and rising inflation, the mantra was very much ‘steady as we go’ – with only modest announcements on tax and spending. Households have been helped with energy costs while banks, landlords and savers have been hit. Healey insisted he was doing his best to help, but was it enough to secure long-term economic health and security for the UK? Host Lucy Fisher discusses these questions and lots more from FT subscribers with UK political editor George Parker, markets columnist Katie Martin and economics editor Sam Fleming. This is a recording of an FT Live subscribers’ webinar. Follow Lucy @lucyfisher.ft.com & @LOS_Fisher; George @georgewparker.bsky.social & @GeorgeWParker and Sam @Sam1Fleming Want more? John Healey hits banks and savers to fund modest Budget handout UK Budget 2026: Healey defends Budget as economic warnings grow Budget in brief: what you need to know Healey fiddles while the UK stagnates Property tax rise will push more landlords to sell, Healey warned Britain’s Budget buys time but ducks the hard choices Our email address is politicalfix@ft