Giles Wilkes

Rosa Hodgkin, energy resilience expert, outlines limits of targeting and urgency on efficiency. Giles Wilkes, policy strategist, explains fiscal constraints and economic risks to growth plans. Hannah Keenan, civil service lead, examines coordination challenges and dangers of wholesale senior firings. They discuss energy shocks, demand reduction, renewables intermittency, resilience trade-offs, and practical near-term policy priorities.

In this discussion, economist Giles Wilkes, who has advised high-profile UK politicians, delves into the recent fallout surrounding the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). He explains its creation and importance, emphasizing how it serves as a guardian of fiscal integrity in the UK. Wilkes highlights the OBR's role in scrutinizing government costings and ensuring long-term economic sustainability, especially under political pressures. The conversation also tackles the implications of recent leaks and the broader institutional versus populist tensions affecting fiscal policies.

Join Tom Pope, Deputy Chief Economist at the Institute for Government, Giles Wilkes, an adviser on industrial strategies, and Stuart Hoddinott, a senior researcher in public services. They dive into the significant implications of Rachel Reeves' budget, dissecting the largest tax increase in over 30 years. The panel reflects on new fiscal rules, the impact on local government funding, and how increased capital spending aims to revitalize public services. Discover what this budget reveals about the government's priorities and growth mission.