Cutting it with the Fink

I couldn’t let today pass without a response to Danny Finkelstein. We do agree on the ends, but not the means. And, as he says, this debate mirrors one about the methods of reform. So, let¹s go through his points.

1. ‘I am afraid I think Fraser overestimates (a lot) how politically difficult this is all going to be. And how personally painful for a lot of people. And how technically difficult.’ Painful, yes, but necessary ­ and it will be resented if Cameron is not straight about the cuts he will have to make. But how painful? Gordon Brown¹s great intellectual victory is to persuade the Tories that ‘cuts’ can only mean frontline services cut ­ so (as Brown once said) 10% cuts ‘mean schools close and hospitals close.’ Now that Labour is planning 10 percent cuts I doubt Brown would still say that. And think about it logically: given that Labour more than doubled state spending since 1997 with precious little to show for it, why should it be so painful to reverse just a little of that extra spending? But perhaps most importantly of all, Cameron’s cuts will not be discretionary.