Is the Government’s growth plan really working?

Is the Government’s growth plan really working?

From Director Podcast by Institute of Directors

April 7, 2026 · 38 min

About this episode

The episode assesses the effectiveness of the government's growth plan amidst various challenges.

As the government continues to prioritise economic growth, questions are mounting over whether its strategy is delivering meaningful results. Against a backdrop of recent geopolitical shocks and domestic political pressures, the challenge of balancing long-term growth with short-term stability has become increasingly acute. In this episode, Anna Leach (IoD Chief Economist) and Giles Wilkes (Institute for Government Senior Fellow) join host Ben Walker to assess whether the government’s growth plan is really working. Together, they examine the government’s record against its own growth ambitions, and explore whether it can realistically deliver a stronger, more resilient economy in the current climate. They also consider the tension between building the foundations for long-term growth and the political imperative to maintain public support, asking whether these goals can truly be aligned.

People in this episode

Host: Ben Walker

Guests: Anna Leach, Giles Wilkes

Topics covered

  • economic growth
  • government strategy
  • geopolitical shocks
  • political pressures
  • long-term growth
  • short-term stability
  • public support

Keywords

  • economic growth
  • government strategy
  • geopolitical shocks
  • political pressures
  • long-term growth
  • short-term stability
  • public support

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Institute of Directors, Institute for Government

Places: UK

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