High-stakes Budget: can the UK meet the moment and shape its future?
26 November 2025 - CISL's Chief Systems Change Officer Eliot Whittington signals why the UK Autumn Budget is a key opportunity to unlock investment and maintain momentum.
The Chancellor has a difficult task on her plate and may well be seen to have succeeded if she manages to deliver a budget that doesn't immediately self-destruct. But she and we should be more ambitious.
Despite the gloom, the UK retains significant strengths that could underpin long-term prosperity. As one of the world’s largest economies, it boasts strong institutions, an educated workforce, and a proven capacity for innovation. The real test for Rachel Reeves is not avoiding short-term failure building the basis for future (green) growth.
The UK has halved emissions since 1990 while growing its economy, built world-leading offshore wind capacity, and nurtured innovative new clean tech businesses. To build on this the government needs to grasp the nettle of energy prices in a way that doesn't undermine electrification of the economy. I Proposals for EV road charges that risk undermining domestic manufacturers at a critical stage and rumored cuts to energy efficiency programs that could perpetuate the stop-start approach that has long plagued the sector. We need consistent, long-term policy signals to unlock investment and maintain momentum.
Beyond energy, the budget should position the UK to thrive in emerging industries—from AI and digital technology to bioscience and advanced manufacturing. These sectors demand frameworks that encourage innovation while ensuring economic stability.