Further government savings must be made to ensure economic recovery
GET ready for another round of complaints about the heartless Tories as the Chancellor announces that further savings of £25billion must be made. But before the weeping and wailing starts let's remember that government spending has actually risen under the coalition.
And it should also be remembered that the ever-desirable tax cuts that will benefit everyone can only be afforded if there are reductions in public spending.
The behaviour of many businesses during the recession is an object lesson in the management of the economy. Many companies had to cut back or face going bust. They are all the stronger for it and ready to benefit now that the economy is recovering.
Yet there will be complaints that the Government is punishing the young at the expense of older voters because it appears to be guaranteeing pensioner benefits while looking at possible cuts in housing benefits for the under-25s.
But those pensioner benefits have already been paid for over a lifetime's work while young welfare recipients, who have contributed nothing as yet, are rewarded when many young workers not receiving benefits cannot afford to move out of the family home.
It is not a question of penalising one group at the expense of another. Most people accepted when the coalition took office that economies have to be made if we are to repair the damage done by Labour. That is still the case. Britain cannot go back to living beyond its means and it must give up the idea that everyone is entitled to every benefit going. That way bankruptcy lies.