Comments on: Message to Nick Clegg: spread the pain, don’t just cut services http://socialliberal.net/2010/03/12/message-to-nick-clegg-spread-the-pain-dont-just-cut-services/ Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:27:48 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: James Graham http://socialliberal.net/2010/03/12/message-to-nick-clegg-spread-the-pain-dont-just-cut-services/comment-page-1/#comment-1815 James Graham Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:02:14 +0000 http://socialliberal.net/?p=373#comment-1815 Neil, What you say is true but you can only cut so much in public spending before eating into services. Our main concern is that Clegg has emphasised that the Lib Dems would focus only on spending cuts and not consider tax rises, something even the Tories don't rule out. I'm not sure that's the line agreed by the manifesto group and it certainly isn't one we would agree with. Neil,

What you say is true but you can only cut so much in public spending before eating into services.

Our main concern is that Clegg has emphasised that the Lib Dems would focus only on spending cuts and not consider tax rises, something even the Tories don’t rule out. I’m not sure that’s the line agreed by the manifesto group and it certainly isn’t one we would agree with.

]]> By: Liberal Neil http://socialliberal.net/2010/03/12/message-to-nick-clegg-spread-the-pain-dont-just-cut-services/comment-page-1/#comment-1814 Liberal Neil Fri, 12 Mar 2010 09:28:07 +0000 http://socialliberal.net/?p=373#comment-1814 I don't think you are right to describe the policy as 'rely on spending cuts'. The Lib Dem manifesto is a combination of reductions in spending COMBINED WITH a significant shift in the burden of taxation from poor to rich and on to pollution. It is also the case that cuts in sending do not necessarily mean cuts in services. For example, if we axed OFSTED tomorrow it would be a spending cut but would not reduce public services one iota. Indeed the immediate improvement in the morale of teachers might mean an improvement in service! Personally I am all in favour of cutting public spending which adds no value to the services people get, particularly if it is part of a package that hands money to the low paid. I don’t think you are right to describe the policy as ‘rely on spending cuts’. The Lib Dem manifesto is a combination of reductions in spending COMBINED WITH a significant shift in the burden of taxation from poor to rich and on to pollution.

It is also the case that cuts in sending do not necessarily mean cuts in services.

For example, if we axed OFSTED tomorrow it would be a spending cut but would not reduce public services one iota. Indeed the immediate improvement in the morale of teachers might mean an improvement in service!

Personally I am all in favour of cutting public spending which adds no value to the services people get, particularly if it is part of a package that hands money to the low paid.

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