Freeze spending but dont cut it and it should be enough.

Just came through on the wires that David Cameron says the Tories are no longer going to match Labour's public spending plans. This is good news to all who care about the budget deficit. It indicates that spending freezes and cuts in all non-key institutions may be brought about under a Tory administration. Obviously I am opposed to any reduction in the quality of service provided by Transport, Health, Education etc (we should be helping people at least the same in a downturn) but there are serious efficiencies to be made which can start with targets for the reduction of spending. Then heath managers will look to cut the number of unnecessary consultant and councillors may look closely at the taxi bills run up by social services.

The only problem with this announcement is that those on the Tory right who favour unfunded tax cuts may smell blood and demand immediate pledges on tax with no references to how to fund them. Here 'Boy George' (as Peter Hain referred to him yesterday) must stand his ground with his admirable policy of no unfunded tax cuts.