Darling; Cuts deeper than Thatcher

[afleitch]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8587877.stm

Alistair Darling has conceded that if Labour is re-elected public spending cuts will be "tougher and deeper" than those implemented by Margaret Thatcher.

Asked in a BBC interview to spell out how far-reaching future cuts could be, Mr Darling did not reject a comparison with measures taken in the early 1980s.

The Tories have said they would cut spending more quickly than Labour.

Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the comments had "blown apart" Labour's claims that it could "go on spending".

Experts say Mr Darling has postponed the major decisions on departmental spending, and what is widely expected to be substantial cuts in many areas, to a spending review expected in the autumn.

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Hmm maybe I will have another look at Labour afterall

[k-onmmunist]

Not convinced until they tell us where the cuts will be.

[Ban my account ffs!]

Not convinced until they tell us where the cuts will be.

To the top tax rate of course!  Maybe they'll privatize the house of commons and institute a poll tax to pay for schools!  Britain would be the envy of the world. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

If I were British I'd certainly already have committed suicide...

[k-onmmunist]

Not convinced until they tell us where the cuts will be.

To the top tax rate of course!  Maybe they'll privatize the house of commons and institute a poll tax to pay for schools!  Britain would be the envy of the world. 

Why did you feel the need to say that?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

If I were British I'd certainly already have committed suicide...

It isn't as though the government has much choice (or, rather, it is certainly pretty sure that it doesn't). The extent to which national sovereignty still exists over economic issues is, alas, deeply questionable.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

...it is, however, worth pointing out that games can be played with memories and language. While people tend to associate the early 80s (the time that's being referenced here) with cuts in public services, government spending actually rose during that period. Admittedly, that was entirely because of the sharp rise in welfare payments as a result of mass unemployment (spending on public services was cut and government investment essentially dried up) but, nonetheless, technically any cut in overall public spending would be 'deeper' than the early 80s.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm just depressed that every time we have a deficit, and in every country, the answer is always the same "CUT SPENDINGS ! CUT SPENDINGS !" No matter how insignificant they already are, no matter how much they have already been cut in the past, no matter how pathetic the state of public services is : We must cut them more ! Always more ! Of course cutting spendings is a need in most of European countries (though I doubt it's the case of Britain). But everybody seems to forget that cutting spendings isn't the only way to reduce a deficit. There is another solution, which is very simple : raising taxes. But if you remind to anyone this simple truth it will immediately exclaim "OMG TAXES R EVIL ! OMG HE WANTS TO RAISE TAXES !!!". No matter how hard you try to explain that cutting spendings could have as much, if not more, negative economic consequences than raising taxes, they are unable to admit that both solution need to be considered.
Cutting spendings is sad, but necessary. Raising taxes is an horrendous sin.

[Silent Hunter]

...it is, however, worth pointing out that games can be played with memories and language. While people tend to associate the early 80s (the time that's being referenced here) with cuts in public services, government spending actually rose during that period. Admittedly, that was entirely because of the sharp rise in welfare payments as a result of mass unemployment (spending on public services was cut and government investment essentially dried up) but, nonetheless, technically any cut in overall public spending would be 'deeper' than the early 80s.

I was going to ask a question, but the excellent Alun Ephraim has already answered it.