Thought For The Day – Wednesday 26th November 2025
Budget Day, Parliament Week
Last Monday, Year 10 students visited Downing Street, the famous street pictured above in a photograph taken last week. Thank you very much to the Downing Street staff, and police, for very kindly hosting us.
Downing Street is, of course, where the Prime Minister spends much of his time. This is, “his” house, on the loan, in the middle of the street.
Downing Street is also where the Chancellor of the Exchequer will emerge from Number 11 Downing Street, the door to the second left of “Number 10”, with a red box, or briefcase. containing a key, and what may well be Government-defining, speech to be delivered in the House of Commons.
Because today is a very important day in the U.K. Today is “Budget Day”.
“The Budget” impacts all of us.
It sets out the economic strategy for the country. Economics, and Business is a very important subject, as we mentioned in the last few months paying tribute to the retiring Mrs. Parr and Mr. Hood.
The Budget affects all areas: business; education; employment; and health, for example.
Previewing one of the most speculated of recent budgets, “BBC Politics East” Presenter Amelia Reynolds, who memorably visited T.B.S.H.S. earlier this year, interviewed people in Bishop’s Stortford for last Sunday’s edition of her brilliant programme. The feature, with scenery you will very much recognise, occurs after 3 minutes 30 seconds, following another engaging introduction to the weekly programme: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002ms20/politics-east-23112025
All Governments have challenges. All Governments have decisions to make. All Governments respond, as best they can, to what a former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan called “events”. The Budget is political, as well as economic. because certain choices are made.
Ultimately, this is all part of democracy. Democracy is about people having their appropriate, legal and respectful say. And our democracy, to a large, and significant, extent, is centred around the Palace of Westminster and Houses of Parliament, where: people are represented; ideas are discussed and debated; politicians are held to account; and laws are made. We organise a number of students to visit Parliament each, and every, year, and have done so since 2013.
This week is also U.K. Parliament Week. The Member of Parliament for Hertford and Stortford, Josh Dean M.P., has created the following message to mark this important time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YvkcVgSW6Q
