Fraser is at David Cameron’s event so he’ll have more on the Tory announcement that they’ll abolish the basic rate of tax on savings and raise the personal allowances of pensioners by £2,000 My initial reaction is that it is a savvy political move, the population is getting older and old people vote in higher numbers than young people. It is, however, a micro not a macro announcement. As David Cameron’s interview on the Today Programme this morning showed the Tories still lack a clear convincing, and compelling answer as to what they would do to lead the country out of this crisis. (Although, it gladdened the heart to hear Cameron highlighting The Observer’s piece on how the Department of Health is now paying celebs to appear in public-health announcements).
Cameron is also announcing that defence and education spending will—like health and international development spending—be exempt from the Tory plan to slow the growth in public expenditure. This is a sensible decision as it restricts Labour’s ability to claim that ‘Tory cuts’ would lead to overcrowded schools, hospitals closing and our troops having to without the necessary kit. (And yes, I know, all these things are true at the moment under this government. But don’t think that would stop Brown from making the charge if he thought it would stick).
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