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Many thanks to everyone who joined us at our live budget preview last week – and thanks for the fantastic feedback. It’s very appreciated.
It was a great panel (it’s not often you get two political editors together for these things!) and I hope it is genuinely informative, useful and, I always think, as important, fun.
Anyhow, while we talk about all things budget, and with a week to go to the big day, I thought it was worth a rundown on the last-minute plays to secure coverage before the event, on the day and in the weeks that follow.
BEFORE THE BUDGET
There have been fewer leaks than we sometimes see ahead of a budget this year. Perhaps a sign of a new administration showing it’s got a tight grip on the mechanics of government – at least at the moment.
Realistically, the budget will have been written by now, apart from very minor tweaks. The “kite-flying” of ideas to see how they land with the media and interest groups before a final decision be made on whether to include them is over.
That doesn’t mean your clients should stop putting forward their ideas or wish lists or pleas for funding. A lot of this is about setting the agenda for after the Budget – and if you have already highlighted areas that are going to be an issue, it is more likely that publishers or broadcasters will come to you.
Prepare for different outcomes with the budget. So, if you’re representing drivers or the car industry for example, how are you going to react to the issue of VAT on petrol and diesel. Anger if the VAT freeze isn’t continued? Appeal that even if it is, more needs to be done because of the cost of vehicle fuel? Demand that the VAT freeze is made permanent because of the insecurity of not knowing what is going to happen from one budget to the next?