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Come clean on cuts, Osborne urges Come clean on cuts, Osborne urges
(about 3 hours later)
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has called for politicians of all parties to have the "honesty" to admit there will be reductions in public spending.Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has called for politicians of all parties to have the "honesty" to admit there will be reductions in public spending.
Writing in the Times, Mr Osborne says it is "ridiculous to pretend there won't be cuts" in the future.Writing in the Times, Mr Osborne says it is "ridiculous to pretend there won't be cuts" in the future.
He says both the Tories and Labour should have the confidence to tell the public the UK faces a "debt crisis".He says both the Tories and Labour should have the confidence to tell the public the UK faces a "debt crisis".
But in the Guardian, Schools Secretary Ed Balls argues that Tory spending plans must come under more scrutiny. But Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the Tories wanted "swingeing spending cuts" so they could cut taxes for the few.
Last week, Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley appeared to suggest that, in order to protect spending on the NHS and schools, a future Conservative government would cut expenditure in other areas by a total of 10% between 2011 and 2015.Last week, Tory health spokesman Andrew Lansley appeared to suggest that, in order to protect spending on the NHS and schools, a future Conservative government would cut expenditure in other areas by a total of 10% between 2011 and 2015.
The Tories are ideologically wedded to cutting spending to fund tax cuts for the few Ed Balls MP, schools secretaryThe Tories are ideologically wedded to cutting spending to fund tax cuts for the few Ed Balls MP, schools secretary
The Conservatives said he had been working from Labour's own figures from the last Budget but the prime minister accused the Tories of planning "savage" public spending cuts.The Conservatives said he had been working from Labour's own figures from the last Budget but the prime minister accused the Tories of planning "savage" public spending cuts.
In his article, Mr Osborne admits that in the past the Tories have "fought shy of using the 'c' word - cuts".In his article, Mr Osborne admits that in the past the Tories have "fought shy of using the 'c' word - cuts".
He writes: "We've all been tip-toeing around one of those discredited Gordon Brown dividing lines for too long. The real dividing line is not 'cut versus investment', but honesty versus dishonesty.He writes: "We've all been tip-toeing around one of those discredited Gordon Brown dividing lines for too long. The real dividing line is not 'cut versus investment', but honesty versus dishonesty.
"We should have the confidence to tell the public the truth that Britain faces a debt crisis; that existing plans show that real spending will have to be cut, whoever is elected.""We should have the confidence to tell the public the truth that Britain faces a debt crisis; that existing plans show that real spending will have to be cut, whoever is elected."
He added: "The bills of rising unemployment and the huge interest costs of a soaring national debt mean that many government departments will face budget cuts.He added: "The bills of rising unemployment and the huge interest costs of a soaring national debt mean that many government departments will face budget cuts.
"These are statements of fact and to deny them invites ridicule.""These are statements of fact and to deny them invites ridicule."
But in his article Ed Balls says the recent Labour leadership quarrels are allowing the Tory plans to escape proper scrutiny. In an article for the Guardian, Ed Balls says the recent Labour leadership quarrels are allowing the Tory plans to escape proper scrutiny.
Mr Balls suggests the Tories' motives for spending cuts should be examined. Speaking on Radio 5 Live, Mr Balls admitted there would need to be "tough choices" and "more efficiency" after the next general election, but insisted that spending cuts to key services were not inevitable.
He writes: "Instead of investing so we can recover more quickly and more strongly, the Tories are ideologically wedded to cutting spending to fund tax cuts for the few." Mr Balls added: "George Osborne should be honest and clear about the spending cuts he is promising to the British people.
He says: "Regardless of the state of the economy, David Cameron has made clear he would always spend less than Labour and is committed to cut spending by a devastating 10% on education and children's services. "If we get the economy right, as I believe we are doing, I think we can see the spending on schools and hospitals rising in real terms after 2011."
"At the same time, he insists that his priority - come what may - is an inheritance tax cut for the 3,000 richest estates."