The 2025 UK Budget speech, delivered by the Chancellor in July, promised “stability and growth.” But did it deliver, or was it a 90-minute exercise in vague optimism? With the election looming, let’s unpack what the numbers say—and what they don’t.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), UK GDP growth is projected at 1.2% for 2025, barely above 2024’s 1%. The Budget’s headline was a £10bn infrastructure boost, but only 20% is new money—most is reallocated from existing funds, per the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Meanwhile, tax thresholds remain frozen, hitting 60% of 18–30-year-olds with higher bills as wages creep up (HMRC, 2025).
On X, reactions were mixed. A viral thread with 30k likes praised the £2bn NHS pledge, but others noted it’s a 3% real-terms cut after inflation. Satirically, one user quipped, “Chancellor’s speech was like a Netflix trailer: big promises, no plot.” The speech leaned hard on buzzwords—“levelling up,” “green economy”—but lacked detail on delivery.
The government’s playing it safe, betting voters won’t notice the fine print. For now, the real is often buried under a pile of lies on social media.
