IFS Director Helen Miller on Budget Challenges: Government to Decide Who Gets Help and Who Pays

Helen Miller, director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, spoke to the Today programme about the tough choices facing the government in the upcoming budget. With limited fiscal headroom and rising demands on public services, she explained that ministers will have to decide who receives support and who ultimately picks up the bill. Miller highlighted that any new spending commitments will likely require offsetting tax rises or spending cuts elsewhere. The IFS has long warned about the fragility of the public finances, and Miller noted that the current economic outlook leaves little room for giveaways. She also pointed to pressures from an ageing population and higher debt interest costs, which squeeze the budget further. For households and businesses, this means the budget could bring tax changes or reduced public spending in some areas. The key question is how the government balances fairness with economic necessity. As the budget approaches, all eyes will be on the Treasury's choices and their impact on growth and living standards.