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| Unions confront Brown over jobs | Unions confront Brown over jobs |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown will meet 15 trade union leaders later amid fears that thousands of public sector jobs are at risk. | |
| The prime minister is hosting a summit at his country residence Chequers to discuss concerns over spending cuts. | The prime minister is hosting a summit at his country residence Chequers to discuss concerns over spending cuts. |
| The government says it wants to halve the budget deficit but unions say this must not involve mass redundancies. | The government says it wants to halve the budget deficit but unions say this must not involve mass redundancies. |
| Meanwhile, the Taxpayers' Alliance and Institute of Directors say £50bn can be saved by measures such as trimming the civil service and ending child benefit. | Meanwhile, the Taxpayers' Alliance and Institute of Directors say £50bn can be saved by measures such as trimming the civil service and ending child benefit. |
| The meeting between the prime minister and the unions comes ahead of next week's TUC annual congress in Liverpool. | The meeting between the prime minister and the unions comes ahead of next week's TUC annual congress in Liverpool. |
| 'No love-in' | 'No love-in' |
| The general secretaries are expected to set out their policy agenda to the prime minister and give ideas for Labour's draft general election manifesto. | The general secretaries are expected to set out their policy agenda to the prime minister and give ideas for Labour's draft general election manifesto. |
| Those at Chequers will include Brendan Barber of the TUC, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson of Unite, Dave Prentis of Unison and Paul Kenney of the GMB. | Those at Chequers will include Brendan Barber of the TUC, Tony Woodley and Derek Simpson of Unite, Dave Prentis of Unison and Paul Kenney of the GMB. |
| Any cut in spending naturally has the potential for some pain, large sums can be saved without hurting vital services Miles Templeman, Institute of Directors | Any cut in spending naturally has the potential for some pain, large sums can be saved without hurting vital services Miles Templeman, Institute of Directors |
| A Downing Street insider said the meeting would be "no love-in" but emphasised that ministers were protecting the unions' jobs during the recession by encouraging apprenticeships and subsidised work places. | A Downing Street insider said the meeting would be "no love-in" but emphasised that ministers were protecting the unions' jobs during the recession by encouraging apprenticeships and subsidised work places. |
| The government has promised to halve the budget deficit - expected to be £175bn this year - within four years. | The government has promised to halve the budget deficit - expected to be £175bn this year - within four years. |
| A joint report by the Taxpayers' Alliance and the Institute of Directors outlines 34 measures they say would mean save Whitehall £50bn. | A joint report by the Taxpayers' Alliance and the Institute of Directors outlines 34 measures they say would mean save Whitehall £50bn. |
| These include abolishing Sure Start, set up to help children in deprived areas, and the Education Maintenance Allowance, which is paid to teenagers to encourage them to stay in college or training. | These include abolishing Sure Start, set up to help children in deprived areas, and the Education Maintenance Allowance, which is paid to teenagers to encourage them to stay in college or training. |
| The report also urges the government to do away with Child Benefit and the Child Trust Fund, instead increasing the child element of the Child Tax Credit. | The report also urges the government to do away with Child Benefit and the Child Trust Fund, instead increasing the child element of the Child Tax Credit. |
| It argues that, as this is would target the less well-off, it would do more to reduce poverty. | It argues that, as this is would target the less well-off, it would do more to reduce poverty. |
| 'Tighten belts' | 'Tighten belts' |
| In addition, the recommendations include ending free TV licences and putting a one-year freeze on public sector pay. | In addition, the recommendations include ending free TV licences and putting a one-year freeze on public sector pay. |
| Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said: "Businesses are right now making savings and cutting back on costs to get through the recession, and there is no reason why the public sector should not have to do the same. | Miles Templeman, Director General of the Institute of Directors, said: "Businesses are right now making savings and cutting back on costs to get through the recession, and there is no reason why the public sector should not have to do the same. |
| "Any cut in spending naturally has the potential for some pain, but our list shows that large sums can be saved without hurting vital services." | "Any cut in spending naturally has the potential for some pain, but our list shows that large sums can be saved without hurting vital services." |
| Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Families and businesses have had to tighten their belts with the onset of the recession, so it is now time for the government to follow suit. | Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "Families and businesses have had to tighten their belts with the onset of the recession, so it is now time for the government to follow suit. |
| "It is absolutely essential that public spending is reduced to rebalance the nation's finances. | "It is absolutely essential that public spending is reduced to rebalance the nation's finances. |
| "After years of simply spending more and assuming the taxpayer will pick up the bill, the situation has changed." | "After years of simply spending more and assuming the taxpayer will pick up the bill, the situation has changed." |
| 'Not painless' | 'Not painless' |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "We should be grateful to the Institute of Directors and Taxpayers' Alliance for spelling out exactly who the victims of public expenditure cuts will be. | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "We should be grateful to the Institute of Directors and Taxpayers' Alliance for spelling out exactly who the victims of public expenditure cuts will be. |
| "They explode the idea that cuts can be just painless efficiency savings and reveal that the victims will be pensioners, children, students, the poor and parents. | "They explode the idea that cuts can be just painless efficiency savings and reveal that the victims will be pensioners, children, students, the poor and parents. |
| "Particularly striking is the absence of any cuts in the welfare state for the super-rich such as tax relief on the huge pensions that top directors pay themselves." | "Particularly striking is the absence of any cuts in the welfare state for the super-rich such as tax relief on the huge pensions that top directors pay themselves." |
| The level of government spending looks set to be a major issue in the build-up to the next election, which has to be held before June next year. | The level of government spending looks set to be a major issue in the build-up to the next election, which has to be held before June next year. |
| Labour says the Tories would reduce spending on essential frontline services if they gained power. | Labour says the Tories would reduce spending on essential frontline services if they gained power. |
| The Conservatives, meanwhile, say Labour is building up an excessive level of debt which must be addressed more radically and immediately. | The Conservatives, meanwhile, say Labour is building up an excessive level of debt which must be addressed more radically and immediately. |