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There will be spending cuts, Brown admits in latest U-turn
Paul Waugh, Deputy Political Editor02.07.09
Gordon Brown struggled to get his Government relaunch back on track today after finally admitting that Labour would have to “cut” some public spending plans.
The Prime Minister continued his rail tour of Britain amid Tory claims that a string of U-turns meant that his authority was waning by the day.
After weeks of a bruising battle with David Cameron over future public spending levels, Mr Brown used the “c-word” last night for the first time.
In the last seven days alone, he has retreated on an Iraq war inquiry, ID cards, Parliamentary Standards Bill and the Royal Mail sell-off.
When asked if individual programmes might be slashed to move funding to frontline services, Mr Brown told BBC News: “If these programmes are cut then that's fine, but I've got no interest in keeping inefficient services that are not useful to society or the economy growing.”
But he rejected Mr Cameron's claims that he was being “deceitful” and insisted he was being honest about the state of the public finances.
“I have always told the truth and I've always told people as it is,” Mr Brown said.
“Yes, it is going to be tough but I believe the issue is that we want to protect these frontline services — our hospitals, our schools, our policing — and we don't want to have the 10 per cent cuts the Conservatives are talking about .”
The Prime Minister's change of tone on spending reductions follows criticism from Cabinet ministers that the public want to be told the truth about the coming squeeze.
Mr Brown faced further criticism today when it emerged that his national tour was covering only Labour heartlands that had recently abandoned the party in the European and local elections. He visited Leicester, Wolverhampton and Leeds yesterday and will go to York, Manchester and Newcastle today.
Reader views (13)
Here he goes again the real waste of space and the real waste of OUR MONEY!
- Georgie, Islington, London
More toad of toad hall than pm of westminster.
- John Bell, Nottm, UK
The Mr. Bean Brown show should be ended. It has been an enormous social failure and very costly.
- Georgie, Islington, London
Nasty,bullying,vindictive,thirsting for power and will say anything that comes into his head to keep it. When asked at the last big reshuffle press conference if he had intended to replace Darling with Balls he lied. He now lies over spending cuts and declares 0% rises. Why can't he just disappear like Darling has? I think dear Darling is too ashamed to shove his head above the parapet in case he is asked a difficult question and has to contradict Brown and Mandelson. Roll on the revolution !
- E.Nuff, London
Cuts in Public Sector pensions, or cuts in the quality of healthcare and education, I wonder?
- Roz, France
Mr Brown has found out the big secret....! He only has to keep digging for another month or two and he will be in China...!
The trouble is I dont think they want him either.
- Dene Wood, Grays, Essex, That little country by the sea that used to have
Clearly, the Prime Ministerial train has a state-of-the-art rapid reverse facility!
More seriously, Mr Brown should end this farcical tour at Buckingham Palace in order to request a Dissolution.
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
I can't believe him even when I know it to be the truth.
- Alex C, London
So much for your earlier lies Gordon Brown!
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, Hants
What a buffoon
- St, London
There is a well tried and tested comment, that Mr Brown would be well advise to consider - "when you find yourself in a hole, stop digging."
Nota Bene. He is obviously an honest man, but it sounded such and empty comment when made to the BBC's bespectacled, glove puppet.
- J R J, Glen Vine
"I have always told the truth", spouted Gormless Brown.
Joe Public will be the ultimate judge of that!
The House of Conmen is most appropriate. That is exactly what they are. CONMEN. VERY GLIB, WITH THE GIFT OF THE GAB. NOT A SHRED OF CREDIBILITY, INTEGRITY OR DIGNITY.
Gormless Brown did a U-turn on the Ghulkas.
Gormless Brown did a U-turn on ID cards.
Gormless Brown did a U-turn on the Royal Mail.
HE CANNOT EVEN GET MP's TO AGREE ON LEGISLATION REGARDING THEIR OBSCENE EXPENSES.
I reiterate: WHERE ARE THE POLICE? WHERE ARE THE HANDCUFFS?
ONE LAW FOR MP's AND A DIFFERENT LAW FOR JOE PUBLIC.
- Reuben Camara, Republic of Morecambe, UK
Gormless Gordon can't even be honest about being honest.
- Alan, carlisle uk
