We were warned in advance that it was going to be the most savage round of public spending cuts since the Geddes Axe nearly ninety years ago. An unprecedented 25-40% reduction in departmental spending. The state would be reduced to a forest of bleeding stumps, forecast Labour, after George “slasher” Osborne had swung his Condem chopper. In the event, the headline cuts in departmental spending were only 19% - which is actually less than the former Labour chancellor, Alistair Darling had planned. How they guffawed on the Tory benches as Labour’s shadow chancellor, Alan Johnson tried to respond to one of the cleverest, and arguably the most cynical spending statements since, well, since the days of Gordon Brown.
George Osborne’s CSR had a remarkable similarity to one of Brown’s classic budget speeches. The hectic delivery, the gratuitous self-congratulation, the blizzard of spending initiatives from Crossrail to the widening of the A11 around Norwich, which for some reason provoked cheers from Tory benches. Cuts? What cuts? Pensioners are to keep their winter fuel allowances and free TV licences. Child benefits for 18 year olds remain. Museums and galleries stay free.
