<p>Thinktank says chancellor has given himself a mountain to climb after ducking big decisions in low-key speech</p><p>John Healey has paved the way for a “brutal” spending review next year after his budget failed to cover a £28bn shortfall in the public finances needed to avoid a return to austerity, according to Britain’s leading tax and spending experts.</p><p>A day after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/budget-2026">his address to the Commons</a>, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned the chancellor had left himself a mountain to climb after ducking several big decisions in his debut tax and spending statement.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/29/john-healey-budget-brutal-spending-review-next-year-ifs">Continue reading...</a>
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Healey’s budget paves way for ‘brutal’ spending review next year, warns IFS
<p>Thinktank says chancellor has given himself a mountain to climb after ducking big decisions in low-key speech</p><p>John Healey has paved the way for a “brutal” spending review next year after his budget failed to cover a £28bn shortfall in the public finances needed to avoid a return to austerity, according to Britain’s leading tax and spending experts.</p><p>A day after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/budget-2026">his address to the Commons</a>, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned the chancellor had left himself a mountain to climb after ducking several big decisions in his debut tax and spending statement.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/oct/29/john-healey-budget-brutal-spending-review-next-year-ifs">Continue reading...</a>