The Austerity Audit

Its ten years since George Osborne revealed the biggest cuts to government spending since the Second World War. Now, in this post Covid world, the government faces a new, far bigger challenge as it tries to shore up a plunging economy.

In this four-part series, Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, examines a decade of austerity to ask why it happened, did it need to happen, what were the effects and what next? He talks to some of the leading players in the drama such as Alistair Darling, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Nick Macpherson, former minister David Gauke and former policy adviser to Nick Clegg, Polly Mackenzie as well as some of those directly affected.

The first programme looks at the origins of a decade austerity, its roots in the 2008 banking crisis and the key spending reviews of 2010 and 2015 which delivered huge cuts to many government departments. The second programme looks at the impact on austerity on the Justice Department and local government. The third on the welfare system and education and the final programme looks at how austerity has hit the NHS and what economic options the current Chancellor Rishi Sunak faces dealing with a government deficit estimated to be £300bn.

Helping Paul Johnson is financial blogger Iona Bain who asks how austerity has affected her generation of millennials and how the Covid crisis is going to affect the fortunes of those in currently in their twenties and thirties.

An in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Its ten years since George Osborne revealed the biggest cuts to government spending since the Second World War. Now, in this post Covid world, the government faces a new, far bigger challenge as it tries to shore up a plunging economy.

In this four-part series, Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, examines a decade of austerity to ask why it happened, did it need to happen, what were the effects and what next? He talks to some of the leading players in the drama such as Alistair Darling, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Nick Macpherson, former minister David Gauke and former policy adviser to Nick Clegg, Polly Mackenzie as well as some of those directly affected.

The first programme looks at the origins of a decade austerity, its roots in the 2008 banking crisis and the key spending reviews of 2010 and 2015 which delivered huge cuts to many government departments. The second programme looks at the impact on austerity on the Justice Department and local government. The third on the welfare system and education and the final programme looks at how austerity has hit the NHS and what economic options the current Chancellor Rishi Sunak faces dealing with a government deficit estimated to be £300bn.

Helping Paul Johnson is financial blogger Iona Bain who asks how austerity has affected her generation of millennials and how the Covid crisis is going to affect the fortunes of those in currently in their twenties and thirties.

An in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

As the UK heads into its deepest ever recession following Covid-19, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, asks whether lessons can learned from 10 years of austerity. In this second episode of the Austerity Audit he analyses two areas which were hit more severely than most - local government and it's provision of social care and the Ministry of Justice. He travels to Liverpool which was particularly badly hit after then chancellor George Osborne announced swingeing cuts following the banking crisis. And he hears from those affected by the cuts to prison budgets and the probation service.

How austerity hit social care and the justice system.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

As the UK heads into its deepest ever recession following Covid-19, Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, asks whether lessons can learned from 10 years of austerity. In this second episode of the Austerity Audit he analyses two areas which were hit more severely than most - local government and it's provision of social care and the Ministry of Justice. He travels to Liverpool which was particularly badly hit after then chancellor George Osborne announced swingeing cuts following the banking crisis. And he hears from those affected by the cuts to prison budgets and the probation service.

How austerity hit social care and the justice system.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies examines the impact of 10 years of austerity on the welfare system and education. He hears from those at the sharp end whose lives were badly affected by some of the most controversial of the welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax and disability benefit changes. He ,looks at the mixed fortunes facing those in the education system and hears from the winners and the losers. Whilst universities have seen huge financial gains, the further education sector has been badly hit with night school and sporting activities being cut along with the equipment and staff needed to provide the apprentices for the next generation of technicians and engineers. Financial blogger Iona Bain asks why her generation of millennials have not been a priority for changes to the benefit system and why those who don't receive a university education are being denied the opportunities they deserve.

Producer: Jim Booth
Presenter: Paul Johnson

An in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson, Director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies examines the impact of 10 years of austerity on the welfare system and education. He hears from those at the sharp end whose lives were badly affected by some of the most controversial of the welfare reforms such as the bedroom tax and disability benefit changes. He ,looks at the mixed fortunes facing those in the education system and hears from the winners and the losers. Whilst universities have seen huge financial gains, the further education sector has been badly hit with night school and sporting activities being cut along with the equipment and staff needed to provide the apprentices for the next generation of technicians and engineers. Financial blogger Iona Bain asks why her generation of millennials have not been a priority for changes to the benefit system and why those who don't receive a university education are being denied the opportunities they deserve.

Producer: Jim Booth
Presenter: Paul Johnson

An in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

In this, the final programme in the Austerity Audit, Paul Johnson -Director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies - looks to the future. He examines those areas of spending which have been relatively protected over the last ten years - the NHS and pensions - and how these decisions have benefited older generations at the expense of the working young.
And, in the wake of huge public spending following the Covid-19 pandemic, what options does the current Chancellor Rishi Sunak have going forward? Another decade of austerity, continued record borrowing or tax rises?
To answer that question Paul Johnson talks to those who were centre of decisions 10 years ago - Alistair Darling, Nick MacPherson, David Gauke and Polly Mackenzie.
Unpacking these issue for the millennial generation who are still coming to terms with the effect of the last economic crisis is financial blogger Iona Bain. She asks - if tax increases are on the cards then is it fair that the burden should fall to her generation rather than those who are older and have enjoyed the benefits of low house prices, job security and good pensions?

In the wake of Covid-19, what does the future hold?

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.

In this, the final programme in the Austerity Audit, Paul Johnson -Director of the Institute For Fiscal Studies - looks to the future. He examines those areas of spending which have been relatively protected over the last ten years - the NHS and pensions - and how these decisions have benefited older generations at the expense of the working young.
And, in the wake of huge public spending following the Covid-19 pandemic, what options does the current Chancellor Rishi Sunak have going forward? Another decade of austerity, continued record borrowing or tax rises?
To answer that question Paul Johnson talks to those who were centre of decisions 10 years ago - Alistair Darling, Nick MacPherson, David Gauke and Polly Mackenzie.
Unpacking these issue for the millennial generation who are still coming to terms with the effect of the last economic crisis is financial blogger Iona Bain. She asks - if tax increases are on the cards then is it fair that the burden should fall to her generation rather than those who are older and have enjoyed the benefits of low house prices, job security and good pensions?

In the wake of Covid-19, what does the future hold?

Paul Johnson offers an in-depth analysis of the UK's decade of austerity.