By Abigail Moszagi

We all hoped we could end 2025 feeling more financially stable, with more faith in our leaders and institutions. But, the last budget of the year proved the struggle is ongoing, and people are concerned.
The Chancellor’s latest Budget was positioned as a moment of renewal, a chance to restore public confidence, address economic pressures, and demonstrate leadership in uncertain times. Yet, despite the rhetoric, the measures announced fall short of the scale and urgency required.

According to the final 2025 instalment of the BC QT report, public confidence in core institutions continues to deteriorate. Net confidence in political parties has declined to –66%, with similarly negative scores for the government (–63%) and the UK political system (–61%). These figures reflect not only dissatisfaction with policy outcomes, but a broader erosion of trust in the mechanisms of governance.
Against this backdrop, the Budget offered incremental adjustments rather than transformative solutions. While tax cuts and targeted relief may provide short-term benefits, they do little to address the structural challenges facing households, from rising living costs to overstretched public services.
The disconnect between policy and public sentiment is particularly stark. The BC QT data reveals that charities, with a net confidence score of 25%, are perceived as more reliable and responsive than government institutions. This is not merely a statistical anomaly; it is a reflection of where the public see genuine impact and empathy.
What was needed in this Budget was a clear, coherent strategy, one that acknowledged the depth of public concern and responded with bold, credible action.
Instead, the announcements felt calibrated for media optics rather than long-term resilience. If the government is serious about rebuilding trust, it must move beyond tactical gestures and embrace a more substantive, people-centred approach. The public is not asking for perfection. They are asking to be heard, and for policies that reflect the realities they face.
This Budget was a missed opportunity to do just that, and public confidence reflected that instability.