Who doesn't want them?

Who doesn't want cuts in government spending in order to to reduce the rapidly growing mountain of government debt and restore some balance in public finances without taxing incomes to a massive extent?

G.Brown for one, but as he lies about most things we can't be sure what he really thinks, and perhaps a few of his henchmen.

Surveys of public opinion have shown that the public understand the parlous state of the finances and are willing to consider cuts in government expenditure. In fact as many as 70% are of this opinion, although some seem to to have a desire to protect health spending to some extent.

Now comes a statement from the Chief Executive of the Audit Commission, Steve Bundred, "Both political parties have pledged that whatever happens they will protect health and education. I think that's a big mistake. Health and Education are the two services that have been most generously funded over the past decade but they are among the most inefficient services."

This is remarkable in that Bundred was a Labour member of the old GLC in the 1980s, and a staunch supporter of Ken Livingstone, and he speaks for a quango which probably knows more than anyone else what waste there is in government departments. They have saved much public money, and yet they still feel that there is much to save.

The only problem is that those in charge of the services at various levels, and who have done very well financially from the Brown generosity, will react by causing evident problems before they really get to grip with the true waste.

When local councils must save money, they will close day centres , or reduce time at leisure centres, to make sacrifice apparent, before they consider reducing redundant staff, all this in support of their contention that there really is no waste in their area.

It may need to be brutal, with a freeze on staff salaries and recruitment, and a transfer to other areas. Given our predicament, there can be no sacred cows.