It’s only 18 months since Rishi Sunak first stood up as chancellor to deliver his COVID crisis budget, but he already feels like such an old hand. Up he got for the autumn budget, smoothly apologising to the deputy speaker for pre-announcing so much to the media, then offering a message of pure hope and glory to the house.

The Conservative recovery plan is working, he told them: growth is up, the deficit is falling, and an “age of optimism” is imminent. Sure, there are flies in the ointment like the energy crisis and supply shortages, but they will soon be a bad memory.

Sunak unveiled billions of pounds for NHS waiting lists, R&D, colleges, and, er, Aberdeen Airport. Benefits are being boosted, alcohol duty is being reformed, and there’s even big money for museums and galleries. But what to make of it all? We asked a team of experts to offer their views (spoiler alert: they don’t think he’s very environmentally friendly).

Elsewhere, we hear why so many people enjoy watching violent films and TV, and why we should be worried about facial recognition technology in schools.

Steven Vass

Business + Economy Editor

What’s in the box? Guy Corbishley/Alamy

Autumn budget 2021: experts react

Ernestine Gheyoh Ndzi, York St John University; Alexander Tziamalis, Sheffield Hallam University; Cam Donaldson, Glasgow Caledonian University; Despina Alexiadou, University of Strathclyde ; Edward Thomas Jones, Bangor University; Gabriella Legrenzi, Keele University; Gavin Midgley, University of Southampton; Jonquil Lowe, The Open University; Karl Schmedders, International Institute for Management Development (IMD); Michael Jacobs, University of Sheffield; Phil Tomlinson, University of Bath; Steven McCabe, Birmingham City University

Sunak talked about a new age of optimism, but it doesn’t feel like that for many people.

Is it a form of masochism?

From Tarantino to Squid Game: why do so many people enjoy violence?

Simon McCarthy-Jones, Trinity College Dublin

We may not be attracted to movie violence as much as people think.

Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Facial recognition in schools: here are the risks to children

Pin Lean Lau, Brunel University London

Several schools in Scotland have paused the rollout of facial recognition technology in school canteens following inquiries from the UK Information Commissioner’s Office.

Environment + Energy

Arts + Culture

Politics + Society

Science + Technology

Health + Medicine

 

Featured events

Holocaust History Under Siege

— Museum of London, 150 London Wall, Barbican, London, EC2Y 5HN, London, London, City of, EC2Y 5HN, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Gresham College

UEA Inaugural Lecture: Prof Melanie Williams - Tastes and encounters: changing visions of women in post-war British realist cinema

— Thomas Paine Study Centre Lecture Theatre, University of East Anglia, Norwich , Norfolk, NR4 7TJ , United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of East Anglia

Mindful of the Future: Can Political Mindfulness Help Us Build Back Better?

— Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Birmingham

Coping with the COVID-19 Pandemic using Mindfulness | Research Spotlight

— Online, London, London, City of, UB8 3FG, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Brunel University London

More events
 

Contact us here to have your event listed.

For sponsorship opportunities, email us here