The UK economy - an insiders view

Matthew Hancock MP is an economist and politician. He was chief of staff to George Osborne until he entered Parliament for West Suffolk in 2010.
He drafted much of the Conservative Party economic policy running up to the election, and now scrutinises Government spending on the influential Commons Public Accounts Committee.

Matthew spent five years as a Bank of England economist before being plucked out to lead George Osborne’s shadow team, advising both Osborne and Cameron on economic policy.

He believes that a successful fiscal tightening is a precondition for sustainable growth, and that evidence shows that past spending cuts have more often than not led to stronger growth. He is seen as expert in the politics of fiscal retrenchment.

At a time when politics has never been more important to business, he offers an insider’s view of economic policy and an outlook for the next 12 months.