This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8262168.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Cabinet discussing spending cuts Cabinet discussing spending cuts
(41 minutes later)
Chancellor Alistair Darling has begun holding a series of meetings with cabinet colleagues to target potential savings in public spending. Chancellor Alistair Darling has begun holding meetings with cabinet members to look at possible spending cuts.
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. PM Gordon Brown admitted this week cuts are needed in "lower priority budgets" and "unnecessary 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. The Tories have accused Mr Brown of keeping the truth about spending cuts from the public and MPs after he spent months denying they were needed.
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 of deciding what will be cut followed an exercise carried out by Treasury officials over the summer and some savings will be revealed in the chancellor's autumn Pre-Budget Report.
What is called the public value programme examined the scope for savings in areas covering around a half of government expenditure. ID cards
Mr Darling has begun asking cabinet ministers to establish their spending priorities and to identify possible savings in their departments. And he said a series of senior ministers believed that the controversial ID cards project would have to go, although they did believe it would make the savings quoted by the Tories and Lib Dems, who both say they would axe the scheme.
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 class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read Nick's blog in full class="" href="/2/hi/programmes/newsnight/8261875.stm">Cameron 'trusted more' over cuts The Home Office says no talks have taken place about scrapping ID cards.
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 Read Nick's blog in full Cameron 'trusted more' over cuts Q&A: Spending cuts
Over the summer Treasury officials looked at the scope for savings in areas covering around a half of government expenditure - for example the use of space in hospitals and quangos with overlapping responsibilities.
The BBC understands Mr Darling has now begun holding one-to-one meetings with cabinet colleagues to establish their spending priorities and to identify possible savings in their departments.
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".
Cuts row
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 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.