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We'll have to cut costs - Darling We'll have to cut costs - Darling
(12 minutes later)
Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the government will have to "cut costs" and "shift resources to the front line" to deal with the recession's effects.Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the government will have to "cut costs" and "shift resources to the front line" to deal with the recession's effects.
He said "hard choices" included looking at selling off "non-essential public sector assets" and shifting resources to "where they are needed most".He said "hard choices" included looking at selling off "non-essential public sector assets" and shifting resources to "where they are needed most".
But he said cutting spending now risked "choking off" the recovery.But he said cutting spending now risked "choking off" the recovery.
Tory leader David Cameron said Labour's planned spending increases next year were "unaffordable".Tory leader David Cameron said Labour's planned spending increases next year were "unaffordable".
In a speech in Cardiff, part of the Chambers of Commerce Business Week, Mr Darling said "targeted public investment" was essential for the economy to recover.In a speech in Cardiff, part of the Chambers of Commerce Business Week, Mr Darling said "targeted public investment" was essential for the economy to recover.
'Choking' recovery'Choking' recovery
But he said the government was prepared to make the "tough choices necessary" while continuing to build a "fair society".But he said the government was prepared to make the "tough choices necessary" while continuing to build a "fair society".
He said the role of government was important - and accused the previous Conservative administration of abandoning "hundreds of thousands who lost their jobs".He said the role of government was important - and accused the previous Conservative administration of abandoning "hundreds of thousands who lost their jobs".
Mr Darling's speech is a signal that Labour is moving to a new line of defence over public spending cuts. Until the summer its line was that the Tories will cut, Labour will invest through the downturn. Paul Mason, Newsnight Read Paul's blogMr Darling's speech is a signal that Labour is moving to a new line of defence over public spending cuts. Until the summer its line was that the Tories will cut, Labour will invest through the downturn. Paul Mason, Newsnight Read Paul's blog
"It is not within the power of any government to protect every job. But it is within our power - and I believe our responsibility - to support people and help them find new employment."
Mr Darling said cutting support now would risk "choking off" the recovery and prolonging the downturn.Mr Darling said cutting support now would risk "choking off" the recovery and prolonging the downturn.
But he added: "In the medium term we need to live within our means, not to do so would be equally irresponsible and damage our country's future." But he added: "In the medium term we need to live within our means. Not to do so would be equally irresponsible and damage our country's future."
He cited plans to increase the top rate of tax on high earners, as outlined in the Budget, as one of the ways the government intends to halve the deficit over four years.He cited plans to increase the top rate of tax on high earners, as outlined in the Budget, as one of the ways the government intends to halve the deficit over four years.
"It is also necessary to see slower growth in public spending in the coming years," he said."It is also necessary to see slower growth in public spending in the coming years," he said.
On health, he said money had to be spent "more effectively" in preventing illness and that the government would "revisit" performance targets to give the NHS "flexibility".On health, he said money had to be spent "more effectively" in preventing illness and that the government would "revisit" performance targets to give the NHS "flexibility".
That candour is a world away from the current Labour government David Cameron class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8243780.stm">Cameron would axe MPs' cheap food 'Test of character'
"Gordon Brown and I have spoken of the hard choices needed in public spending over the coming years," he said. He and the prime minister had discussed the "hard choices" needed in coming years and would not "flinch" from difficult decisions, he said.
"We won't flinch from the difficult decisions that will be necessary, and we will always act guided by our core values of fairness and responsibility.
"This will be our test of character. Properly targeted public investment can and should make a difference."This will be our test of character. Properly targeted public investment can and should make a difference.
"That means making choices and setting priorities - shifting resources to the front line. It means more efficiency, continuing to reform, cutting costs, public and private sectors working together.""That means making choices and setting priorities - shifting resources to the front line. It means more efficiency, continuing to reform, cutting costs, public and private sectors working together."
Serious savings That candour is a world away from the current Labour government David Cameron class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8243780.stm">Cameron would axe MPs' cheap food
In April's Budget, Mr Darling forecast that public borrowing this year would reach £175bn and arguments about how that figure will be reduced are set to dominate the political agenda in the run-up to the general election.In April's Budget, Mr Darling forecast that public borrowing this year would reach £175bn and arguments about how that figure will be reduced are set to dominate the political agenda in the run-up to the general election.
The Tories have accused Labour of not being honest about planned cuts in previous rows on public spending.
And the party says the government's stated aim of cutting its spending deficit by half in four years is based on little more than "hope".
In his own speech earlier, Tory leader David Cameron said only his party was being "straight" with people about dealing with the "deficit crisis".In his own speech earlier, Tory leader David Cameron said only his party was being "straight" with people about dealing with the "deficit crisis".
"We've taken the bold step of saying to the British public very clearly, with a Conservative government, public spending will be cut. Not reduced in growth, not frozen, but cut," he said."We've taken the bold step of saying to the British public very clearly, with a Conservative government, public spending will be cut. Not reduced in growth, not frozen, but cut," he said.
"That candour is a world away from the current Labour government. ""That candour is a world away from the current Labour government. "
Later he told the BBC the government's argument made "absolutely no sense" because it was predicting that the economy would start to grow this year but was planning a £30bn spending increase next year.
"So even on their own information, they should be doing something to avoid such a large increase in spending next year," he said.
The Liberal Democrats say both of the main parties need to be more honest about the fact that "big programmes" will have to be cut back.The Liberal Democrats say both of the main parties need to be more honest about the fact that "big programmes" will have to be cut back.
Leader Nick Clegg said last month he recognised "serious savings" had to be made to bring the public finances under control but said frontline services had to be protected.Leader Nick Clegg said last month he recognised "serious savings" had to be made to bring the public finances under control but said frontline services had to be protected.
And treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the issues of public sector pensions, tax credits which "go right up the income range" and defence contracts such as Trident had to be talked about. And Treasury spokesman Vince Cable said the issues of public sector pensions, tax credits which "go right up the income range" and defence contracts such as Trident had to be talked about.