Britain’s stretched public services will buckle under the weight of the spending cuts being planned for after the election, economists have warned, as Jeremy Hunt prepares for another round of tax reductions in next week’s budget.
Experts say the level of public sector spending pencilled in for the next parliament would mean cuts equivalent to those undertaken by David Cameron’s government from 2010 to 2015. Some have warned the next government will not be able to implement them, and will be forced either to raise taxes or borrow more to fund emergency spending.
The stark warnings come as the chancellor considers cutting billions more from his public spending plans to pay for further reductions in either income tax or national insurance at next week’s budget. Last week the Resolution Foundation calculated such a move would mean taking a fifth out of budgets for certain departments across the parliament, sparking concern among economists, trade unions and even some Conservatives.
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