Has Labour u-turned on protecting defence spending?
James Forsyth 7:33pm
Back in July, Lord Mandelson added defence to health and education as an area of spending that Labour would protect from cuts. But looking at page 97 of the Green Book, defence is conspicuously absent from the list of areas of public spending that are protected in 2011-2012 and 2012-2013. The only areas mentioned are NHS spending, schools, sure start, policing and overseas aid. As some of these are only receiving funding increases in line with inflation, it seems reasonable to assume that everything else - including defence - is likely to be cut in real terms.
(There is a commitment to spend up to £2.5 billion from the reserve on the mission in Afghanistan in 2009-10. But this will not add to the baseline of the MOD budget.)
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Mike
December 9th, 2009 7:48pm Report this comment"I have nothing but respect for our armed forces"
G. Brown
and nothing else, certainly no money
TrevorsDen
December 9th, 2009 7:49pm Report this commentHaving just watched Jeff Randall on SKY I would like to know what the Welsh is for 'big fat ignorant bastard'.
King Prawn
December 9th, 2009 8:16pm Report this commentThe only item that should be ringfenced is defence spending. There should be a sizeable increase to give our Army in Aghanistan the provisions they require.
I can think of plenty of areas where cuts can be made, but the two main ones are:-
1. As the Irish are doing, cuts can be made in the level of the public service workforce. There are so many non-jobs existing in both central and local government that substantial cuts can be made.
Obviously, this will result in substantial industrial action from the Unions but it is a nettle that must be grasped.
I have often wondered why central and local government have been allowed to take on more staff during this recession. I have heard the figure of 100,000 new public servants being bandied around. I suspect that is McBroon playing politics again by ensuring that a new Conservative Government becomes unpopular very quickly when such a policy has to be put into action;
2. Get rid of the Children's Tax Credit system. It is totally unworkable and even most accountants, including myself, don't understand it. The system requires 7,000 extra staff which can easily be cut from the public purse. Also you will not get the annual overspend of £1 to £2 billion that always seems to occur.
If the next government wants to target poverty then just increase the personal allowances.
If you asked commentators which was the worst post-ware government, the Callaghan Government of 1976-79 is often cited. But it was Callaghan and Healey who made substantial cuts to the budget even though it was electorally disastrous.
The truth is that Callaghan and Healey put the country before the Labour Party. Cannot say the same for McBroon!!!
Chuck Unsworth
December 9th, 2009 8:19pm Report this comment"Has Labour u-turned on protecting defence spending?"
Would one expect anything different from these treacherous scum? Never, ever, trust them. Always scrutinise the small print.
In the meantime ever more of our immensely honourable young men and women are sent to die - in Nulab's cause.
Irene
December 9th, 2009 8:28pm Report this commentTrevors Den - Agreed!
The Moral Coward of Kirkcaldy.....
December 9th, 2009 9:28pm Report this commentDon't forget Britain's increased contribution to the EU. This increased payment is ring fenced too.......
"UK's payments to EU jump by 60 per cent"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6073804/UKs-payments-to-EU-jump-by-60-per-cent.html
Britain's payments to the European Union will soar by almost 60 per cent next year, according to figures "buried" in government documents.
The Treasury statistics show that the UK's net contribution to the EU will increase from £4.1 billion this year to £6.4 billion in 2010/11.
The figures were published in the Treasury's annual Community Finances statement, which was slipped out last month just before parliament broke up for its summer recess.
In2minds
December 9th, 2009 9:42pm Report this commentDefence spending, why not promise to build an aircraft carrier in a Scottish yard?
Dennis Churchill
December 9th, 2009 9:54pm Report this commentKing Prawn
Labour is not going to grasp any nettles as it does not expect to be in power when these proposals are implemented.
The real question is what areas will the Conservatives Ring Fence –and any mention of Foreign Aid will just make many groan. Taking from the poor tax payers of rich countries to give to the rich in poor countries is not very popular outside certain London Postal Numbers. How much did we give India? You know the country with a Space Programme?
King Prawn
December 9th, 2009 11:35pm Report this commentDennis Churchill,
Laour did grasp the nettle in 1978 which is why we had the Winter Of Discontent. Brown is obviously cut from differeny cloth than Healey and Callaghan. Even though I am a Labour supporter, I hold Brown with the utmost contempt and willvote Tory at the next election to get rid of him.
The fact that the Tories are not saying that they are going to make deep cuts in the public sector workforce now will just make it worse when they are forced into such a policy.
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