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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Come clean on cuts, Osborne urges | Come clean on cuts, Osborne urges |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has called for politicians of all parties to have the "honesty" to admit there would 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 Schools Secretary Ed Balls said the Tories wanted "swingeing spending cuts" so they could cut taxes for the few. | 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 secretary | The 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." |
| In an article for the Guardian, 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Ring-fence' | |
| Mr Balls added: "George Osborne should be honest and clear about the spending cuts he is promising to the British people. | Mr Balls added: "George Osborne should be honest and clear about the spending cuts he is promising to the British people. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Liam Byrne, the chief secretary to the Treasury, said the Conservatives were ideologically committed to cutting spending - insisting that regardless of economic circumstances, the Tories would make cuts of £5bn in the present financial year, and of 10% from 2011 onwards. | |
| However, Mr Byrne would not say what Labour intended to do, telling a press conference that Labour intended to increase public spending by 0.7% after 2011. | |
| But Mr Byrne added: "From 2011 onwards we have to decide closer to the time how to divide up the growth in current spending." | |
| Shadow Schools Secretary Michael Gove told BBC Radio 4's The World At One that Mr Byrne's comments were at variance with Mr Balls' remarks that there would be a real-terms increase in education spending under Labour. | |
| "If you ring-fence health spending, and for that matter international development spending, then that means you cannot give a guarantee that you will ring-fence other departments," Mr Gove added. | |
| "Either party doesn't know the position that it's going to be in a month, two months, three months out." |