IFS: UK needs £15bn in tax rises or spending cuts by 2022
Austerity will continue if the next government wants to balance the books, warns Institute for Fiscal Studies
Austerity is not going anywhere soon, predicts the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which warns the next government must either increase taxes or make spending cuts to eliminate the deficit.
The think-tank, often a scourge of chancellors with its headline-grabbing analysis of official Budget figures, says £15bn needs to be raised by 2022 – the date of the next parliament after the snap general election on 8 June, if the Fixed Term Parliament Act is honoured.
It came to this conclusion after summarising the UK finances under the two Conservative-led governments since 2010, a period marked by sluggish recovery from the global financial crisis.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The financial crisis was so severe and recovery so weak that national income per adult only returned to its pre-crisis level around the end of 2015.
"National income per adult, if forecasts are correct, is set to be 18 per cent lower by 2022 than it would have been if it had grown by two per cent a year," says the London Evening Standard.
After seven years of austerity, public spending is only "broadly" back at pre-crisis levels as a fraction of national income and is still above its long-run average, says The Guardian.
The UK still has the fifth largest annual budget shortfall out of 35 advanced economies and the sixth largest debt out of 26 nations with comparable data.
However, not all the parties vying for government agree with the need for austerity. Labour has said it would borrow as much as £500bn more to fund an economic stimulus programme it believes would boost growth.
Higher growth could lead to higher tax receipts, but the implication is a longer period is needed to close the deficit and there is dispute whether the growth is achievable.
Simon Wren-Lewis, economics professor at Oxford University, told the Guardian: "There is nothing special in eradicating the deficit. It is a completely arbitrary goal."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - November 2, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - anti-fascism, early voter turnout, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
New austerity: can public services take any more cuts?
Today's Big Question Some government departments already 'in last chance saloon', say unions, as Conservative tax-cutting plans 'hang in the balance'
By The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng’s supply-side reforms
feature PM and chancellor are banking on cuts to regulations and tax in bid to stimulate growth
By The Week Staff Published
-
Do Tory tax cuts herald return of austerity?
Today's Big Question Chancellor U-turns on scrapping top rate tax but urges ministers to make public spending cuts
By Elliott Goat Published
-
British wages are being squeezed - here’s why
In Depth Report says former Labour heartlands in the north of England have been hit hardest
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
No-deal Brexit would require emergency budget, says Hammond
Speed Read Chancellor warns end to austerity plan due to be announced today could be cancelled in a no-deal scenario
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
End austerity or eliminate the deficit?
Speed Read Theresa May faces ‘stark choice’ as IFS warns of massive tax hikes needed to ease squeeze on public services
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Surprise surplus gives Hammond wiggle room to splash the cash
Speed Read Borrowing down and tax revenue up as figures reveal budget deficit lower than expected
By The Week Staff Last updated
-
Two-thirds of Brits still don’t trust banks
Speed Read Ten years on from the financial crisis, survey finds trust for banking system in short supply
By The Week Staff Last updated