Sundown for Lockdown?

As the Government prepares for the huge leap of unlocking, can it manage expectations from both a weary public and its own restive MPs? Rishi Sunak is about to announce potentially the most painful budget in a decade. Can he pull the Tories’ pre-COVID policy aims out of deep freeze? And how will Conservative MPs feel about “building back better” with more social housing in their own constituencies?

This week’s special guests are Mo Hussein, former special advisor to Amber Rudd and chief press officer in No.10, and IfG fellow John McTernan, former senior advisor to Tony Blair. 

• “The government’s line is often ‘we’d love to do this but our scientists won’t let us.’” – Cath Haddon
• “The idea that absolutely everyone in Whitehall is knuckling down to work on COVID is just fanciful.” – John McTernan
• “The big question is, is fiscal conservatism dead or just hibernating?” – Gemma Tetlow
• “Sajid Javid resigned over independence, but Sunak has been the most independent Chancellor we’ve had for a long time. He’s even got his own branding and infographics” .” – John McTernan

Presented by Hannah White with Cath Haddon, Maddy Thimont-Jack and Gemma Tetlow. Audio production by Alex Rees

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