Now this is a turn up. According to the Independent, Gordon Brown is going to “issue a list of specific [spending] cuts” as part of his Autumn “fightback”. Here’s how the strategy goes:
“Initially, Mr Brown will seek to establish in voters’ minds the key differences between Labour and the Tories – on policy, government intervention to limit the impact of the recession and preserving frontline services. Then he will acknowledge that the Government needs to go beyond the £35bn of efficiency savings it has already promised. The aim will be to show Labour is serious about reducing the deficit, which is set to rocket to £175bn in the current financial year and to £173bn next year.
Cabinet ministers will announce that some projects will be abandoned, shelved or delayed to save money. One admitted yesterday: ‘Efficiency savings are useful but not a substitute for real savings.
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