Gordon Brown has come under fresh pressure over the public finances after John Hutton, the former defence secretary, said that voters expect "honesty" about the need for cuts in Government spending.   Mr Brown is trying to frame the next election as a choice between "Tory cuts" and "Labour investment", despite predictions from independent economists that Labour's huge Government borrowing will mean that whoever wins the next election will have no choice but to cut spending.
Mr Brown is trying to frame the next election as a choice between "Tory cuts" and "Labour investment", despite predictions from independent economists that Labour's huge Government borrowing will mean that whoever wins the next election will have no choice but to cut spending.
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Alistair Darling today refused to rule out a pay freeze for Britain's six million public sector workers after the head of the government's spending watchdog accused party leaders of failing to be honest with people.Steve Bundred, the chief executive of the Audit Commission, wrote in the Observer that he had not heard any politician admit that "severe pay restraint" was necessary to rebalance public finances.The chancellor insisted public sector pay must be "fair" to workers but, with inflation at its lowest level in years, appeared to open up the possibility of a freeze.
Alistair Darling today refused to rule out a pay freeze for Britain's six million public sector workers after the head of the government's spending watchdog accused party leaders of failing to be honest with people.
Steve Bundred, the chief executive of the Audit Commission, wrote in the Observer that he had not heard any politician admit that "severe pay restraint" was necessary to rebalance public finances.
The chancellor insisted public sector pay must be "fair" to workers but, with inflation at its lowest level in years, appeared to open up the possibility of a freeze.
Murdochgraph:
The Bank of England's monetary policy committee (MPC) is expected to extend its programme of quantitative easing (QE) by £25 billion.
Torygraph:
Gordon Brown has come under fresh pressure over the public finances after John Hutton, the former defence secretary, said that voters expect "honesty" about the need for cuts in Government spending.
