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Cabinet discussing spending cuts Cabinet discussing spending cuts
(10 minutes later)
Chancellor Alastair Darling has begun holding a series of meetings with cabinet colleagues to target potential savings in public spending.Chancellor Alastair Darling has begun holding a series of meetings with cabinet colleagues to target potential savings in public spending.
The process has begun since the prime minister conceded on Tuesday for the first time there would have to be cuts in certain public spending programmes.The process has begun since the prime minister conceded on Tuesday for the first time there would have to be cuts in certain public spending programmes.
Cabinet ministers are being asked which programmes they believe could be sacrificed and which should be spared.Cabinet ministers are being asked which programmes they believe could be sacrificed and which should be spared.
Some savings will be revealed in the chancellor's autumn Pre-Budget Report.Some savings will be revealed in the chancellor's autumn Pre-Budget Report.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the political process followed an exercise carried out by Treasury officials over the summer.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the political process followed an exercise carried out by Treasury officials over the summer.
What is called the public value programme examined the scope for savings in areas covering around a half of government expenditure.What is called the public value programme examined the scope for savings in areas covering around a half of government expenditure.
Mr Darling has begun asking cabinet ministers to establish their spending priorities and to identify possible savings in their departments.Mr Darling has begun asking cabinet ministers to establish their spending priorities and to identify possible savings in their departments.
Consideration is being given to the idea that the cabinet as a whole should agree where the spending axe should fall so that, as a previous chancellor once graphically put it, all get to dip their hands in the blood Nick Robinson, BBC political editor Nick Robinson's Newslog
Gordon Brown admitted for the first time that spending cuts would be needed in a speech to the TUC in Liverpool on Tuesday.Gordon Brown admitted for the first time that spending cuts would be needed in a speech to the TUC in Liverpool on Tuesday.
The prime minister said he would "cut costs, cut inefficiencies, cut unnecessary programmes and cut lower priority budgets".The prime minister said he would "cut costs, cut inefficiencies, cut unnecessary programmes and cut lower priority budgets".
But he said Labour would not "support cuts in the vital front-line services on which people depend".But he said Labour would not "support cuts in the vital front-line services on which people depend".
Poll resultsPoll results
Shadow chancellor George Osborne has claimed that leaked Treasury documents show Mr Brown "misled" Parliament on the scale of planned spending cuts.Shadow chancellor George Osborne has claimed that leaked Treasury documents show Mr Brown "misled" Parliament on the scale of planned spending cuts.
The papers suggest the government is preparing 9.3% cuts in departmental budgets over the four years from 2010, Mr Osborne said, adding that Mr Brown had told MPs he was not planning 10% cuts.The papers suggest the government is preparing 9.3% cuts in departmental budgets over the four years from 2010, Mr Osborne said, adding that Mr Brown had told MPs he was not planning 10% cuts.
Downing Street has rejected the claims, saying "the prime minister would never mislead Parliament".Downing Street has rejected the claims, saying "the prime minister would never mislead Parliament".
Meanwhile, a poll for BBC Two's Newsnight suggests more people think Tory leader David Cameron would make the right cuts in public spending than Gordon Brown.Meanwhile, a poll for BBC Two's Newsnight suggests more people think Tory leader David Cameron would make the right cuts in public spending than Gordon Brown.
Of the 1,050 adults canvassed for the programme, 39% said they trusted the Conservatives to make the right choices when it came to spending decisions.Of the 1,050 adults canvassed for the programme, 39% said they trusted the Conservatives to make the right choices when it came to spending decisions.
This compared with 24% for Labour and 17% for the Liberal Democrats.This compared with 24% for Labour and 17% for the Liberal Democrats.