Tuesday’s emergency budget confirms what we already knew: public finances face their tightest squeeze for decades. This will mean tough decisions for all services at every level of government. The Chancellor has also highlighted that we need collective solutions to our collective national debt – and understanding what really matters to the public is a key element of that.

A large proportion of the public feel they should have a say in these decisions – but there is also a business case for this involvement: cost reduction, enhanced efficiency and public acceptability are all outcomes from well-run consultations.

This briefing draws on the lessons we have learned from designing and delivering research and consultation exercises to help clients set budgetary priorities. While many come from our huge experience of budget-setting workshops and deliberative events, the principles are as applicable across a range of methods, from online debates to open meetings.