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Spending cuts unavoidable - Benn | Spending cuts unavoidable - Benn |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A cabinet minister has said cuts in public spending will be unavoidable after the next general election. | A cabinet minister has said cuts in public spending will be unavoidable after the next general election. |
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions ministers would face some tough decisions. | Environment Secretary Hilary Benn told BBC Radio 4's Any Questions ministers would face some tough decisions. |
Mr Benn conceded his own Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was facing future cuts and would have to prioritise where it spent money. | Mr Benn conceded his own Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was facing future cuts and would have to prioritise where it spent money. |
The disclosure comes with Labour and the Conservatives immersed in a dispute over spending plans. | The disclosure comes with Labour and the Conservatives immersed in a dispute over spending plans. |
'Tighten belt' | 'Tighten belt' |
Mr Benn told the BBC programme: "If I look at my department's budget, it is going to go down a bit and therefore we will have to prioritise." | Mr Benn told the BBC programme: "If I look at my department's budget, it is going to go down a bit and therefore we will have to prioritise." |
His comments come with Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisting the next general election will be fought on a platform of "Labour investment versus Tory cuts". | His comments come with Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisting the next general election will be fought on a platform of "Labour investment versus Tory cuts". |
Mr Benn said the government faced "real choices" ahead and "when times are tough you need to tighten your belt". | Mr Benn said the government faced "real choices" ahead and "when times are tough you need to tighten your belt". |
He defended Mr Brown's policy of borrowing during the recession, saying the financial crisis would be "deeper and worse" had he not. | He defended Mr Brown's policy of borrowing during the recession, saying the financial crisis would be "deeper and worse" had he not. |
Mr Benn said there were already 2,500 fewer jobs in his department than in previous years, but more was being spent, for example, on flood defences. | Mr Benn said there were already 2,500 fewer jobs in his department than in previous years, but more was being spent, for example, on flood defences. |
Commons clash | Commons clash |
On the same programme, shadow work and pensions Secretary Theresa May said a future Conservative government would "save billions" by scrapping the proposed national identity card. | |
At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Brown defended his spending pledges after Tory leader David Cameron accused him of being caught "red-handed" giving misleading figures. | At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Mr Brown defended his spending pledges after Tory leader David Cameron accused him of being caught "red-handed" giving misleading figures. |
Mr Cameron said the prime minister told MPs capital spending would rise every year until 2012, when it would fall from £44bn in 2009/10 to £26bn in 2012/13. | |
But Mr Brown said Labour had brought forward future spending to counter the recession and investment was far higher than it had been under the Tories. | But Mr Brown said Labour had brought forward future spending to counter the recession and investment was far higher than it had been under the Tories. |