The Sun’s leader column today is an indication of just how much the terms of the spending debate have changed:
“And, frankly, where is the disgrace in making cuts? Who really believes some services WON’T need cutting to pay back the monstrous debts we are running up to beat recession? More unedifying was Gordon Brown’s desperate and deceitful attempt to paint Labour as the party of endless investment battling to keep out the cost-cutting Tories.
This is complete fiction.
Both parties will be forced to make substantial cuts after the next election, no matter who wins it.
Mr Brown knows this very well – his Treasury’s own figures admit it.
His poll ratings might improve if he stopped taking us all for fools.”
That Lansley’s gaffe hasn’t caused the Tories more trouble is proof that Brown’s favourite dividing line won’t work at the next election. The Today programme and every paper I’ve read this morning have followed up on Fraser’s

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