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Cameron would axe MPs' cheap food Cameron would axe MPs' cheap food
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron has pledged to end MPs' subsidised alcohol and food and reduce ministerial salaries if the Tories win power at the next election.David Cameron has pledged to end MPs' subsidised alcohol and food and reduce ministerial salaries if the Tories win power at the next election.
He also said the number of MPs and ministerial cars would be cut.He also said the number of MPs and ministerial cars would be cut.
The Tory leader conceded the £120m-a-year saving made would be only a "pinprick" in the amount needed to balance the deficit. The Tory leader said it would amount to only a "pinprick" in overall savings needed - but politicians had to take a lead in bearing the "burden" of debt.
But he said politicians had to take a lead and everyone had to play a part in bearing the "burden". He also said government spending should be cut immediately, calling Labour's plans for next year "unaffordable".
In his first major speech since the summer political break, Mr Cameron restated plans to reduce the number of MPs in the House of Commons - currently 645 - to 585, which he said would save £15.5m. Mr Cameron's first major speech since the summer political break coincided with what was seen as a key speech from Chancellor Alistair Darling warning about "hard choices" to come on the economy.
Salaries frozen 'Cushy lifestyle'
Of the 169 government ministerial posts and three opposition party posts which get extra money on top of their MPs' salaries, their pay would be cut by an immediate 5% he said. The chancellor stopped short of saying there would be public spending cuts - and warned that to do so before the recovery was established could prolong the recession.
It would mean the prime minister would have their pay cut by £6,500 and cabinet ministers would get £4,000 each less. Salaries would also be frozen for the whole of the next Parliament, he said, saving more than £250,000 a year. But Mr Cameron said politicians had to be "frank" with the public and under a Conservative government, "public spending will be cut" .
He accused the government of wasting millions of pounds of public money funding "a cushy lifestyle for politicians" and pledged that, under a Conservative government, "the gravy train will well and truly hit the buffers".
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 Alistair Darling, chancellor We'll have to cut costs - DarlingWe 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 Alistair Darling, chancellor We'll have to cut costs - Darling
And on food and drink, which is subsidised in the Houses of Parliament, he said the cost would be raised to "match the prices normal people pay in cafes, restaurants and bars around the country" - which Mr Cameron said would save up to £5.5m. He restated plans to reduce the number of MPs in the House of Commons - currently 645 - to 585, which he said would save £15.5m.
He said MPs could get a salad for £1.70 and a pint of Fosters for £2.10 - "a little over half as much as in a normal London pub". And he said 169 government ministers and the three opposition party posts which get extra money on top of their MPs' salaries, would get an immediate 5% pay cut.
"We all have to eat, we all sometimes want a drink, there's nothing about this job that forces us to eat or drink any more than if we did something else," he said. It would amount to a £6,500 cut for the prime minister and a £4,000 cut for cabinet ministers. Salaries would also be frozen for the whole of the next Parliament, he said, saving more than £250,000 a year.
On food and drink, which is subsidised in the Houses of Parliament, he said the cost would be raised to "match the prices normal people pay in cafes, restaurants and bars around the country" - which Mr Cameron said would save up to £5.5m.
Take a lead
He also went over plans to decentralise power, review quangos, publish all government spending over £25,000 online and axe MPs' Communications Allowance.He also went over plans to decentralise power, review quangos, publish all government spending over £25,000 online and axe MPs' Communications Allowance.
'Candour' Other plans include slimming down the Electoral Commission, and stopping public sector bodies hiring consultants to lobby politicians.
The Conservative leader said only his party was being "straight" with people about dealing with the "deficit crisis". Mr Cameron conceded that the £120m-a-year saved was dwarfed by the £175bn Budget deficit expected by the end of the 2009-10 financial year but said it was important politicians took a lead when they were asking others to tighten their belts.
"Unlike any previous politicians in opposition... 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.
"That candour is a world away from the current Labour government," he said.
The Liberal Democrats have proposed not renewing Trident. David Cameron wants to increase the price of salads. Danny Alexander, Lib DemsThe Liberal Democrats have proposed not renewing Trident. David Cameron wants to increase the price of salads. Danny Alexander, Lib Dems
Cutting the cost of politics was only a "pinprick" in the total amount of savings needed, he said. In an interview with the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson, he added: "People who say that Tories relish the idea of cutting things - rubbish. I don't relish this at all but we have got to deal with our deficit. If we don't, our country and our economy will be in trouble.
"Tough decisions" would be needed in the years ahead as well as a "wholesale change of culture" in public spending - and everyone would have to show "real thrift and responsibility". "If we do deal with it, we can have a very good future."
"That will only happen if people feel there is genuine leadership from the top and that the burden is being shared fairly - especially by those who can bear it best," he said. But for Labour, Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liam Byrne said: "David Cameron has just made the big divide in British politics crystal clear.
"Under a Conservative government, far from politicians being exempt from the age of austerity, they must show leadership." "We want to help people to stay in work and stay in their homes during difficult times, while David Cameron now admits that he'll cut public spending whatever the economic and social cost, putting the recovery at risk."
Meanwhile, Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the government must start "cutting costs" as it deals with the effects of the recession. The Liberal Democrats' chief of staff, Danny Alexander, said there was an argument for cutting the cost of politics and his party had proposed reducing the number of MPs by 150.
Ministers would "not flinch" from "hard choices" on spending but must still commit to "fairness," he said. But he said the Tories must stop "dodging the tough questions... the Liberal Democrats have proposed not renewing Trident. David Cameron wants to increase the price of salads".
'Dodging questions'
In April's Budget, Mr Darling forecast that public borrowing this year would reach £175bn.
The Liberal Democrats' chief of staff, Danny Alexander, said: "There is a good argument to be made for cutting the cost of politics.
"The Liberal Democrats have proposed reducing the number of MPs by 150, but if the Conservatives seriously hope to convince people they are fit to govern it is time they stopped dodging the tough questions.
"The Liberal Democrats have proposed not renewing Trident. David Cameron wants to increase the price of salads.
"While it's nice to finally have some concrete proposals from the Conservatives, at this rate it would take them several centuries to balance the books."