Monday 16 March 2009

Tories to slash size of the state - shock

From The Metro:

Mr Cameron challenged the Government to match his pledge, which he said would provide a lead in showing how taxpayer-funded institutions can "deliver more for less"... he said that, in the current tough economic climate, all public institutions had to show that they can "live within their means"... his plan for belt-tightening in public institutions would form part of a "route back to recovery" which he will set out in a series of speeches over the coming weeks.

Oh, before you get too excited, Call Me Dave was talking about 'freezing' the BBC licence fee, not cutting it mind, just not increasing it. Assuming that it would therwise have increased by 3% for inflation, that 'saves' about £4 per household*, or £80 million over a year, just slightly more than one per cent of one per cent of overall government spending.

Truly, this is Indian bicycle marketing at its finest.

* To the extent that you accept the lack of a tax hike as a saving.

6 comments:

Witterings from Witney said...

So the Boy Dave reckons this idea is a 'route back to recovery'?

God help us, 'cause the Boy Dave won't if this is an example of his abilities!

Mind you - like all politicians, the Boy does like the sound of his own voice!

Anonymous said...

What about all the quangos,"consultants"and fake charities,big saving there before you start on the necessary jobs.I hope it will be the fatcats and not the serfs,who actually do the work, bearing the brunt of this.

CityUnslicker said...

it is a start though.

My big worry is that the politico's think that THIS sort of thing is cutting (it is a good way to get a tax saving into the headlines though, al-beeb bound to go for it).

There is going to be an earthquake at around the time of the budget and then they will all be shocked as a group. The UK is not all that far off approaching the IMF for a loan at the current rate of economic deterioration

Lester Taylor said...

The tax position between the 3 main parties is miniscule. They are too frightened of losing votes. This country needs sweeping new ideas and sweeping change. Without it we will wither away.

banned said...

Just sell the BBC and be done with it.

Anonymous said...

This is the worst thing he could have suggested.

He is planning to freeze the income* of the largest propaganda organization in the UK, probably the world.

I give the Tories one term.

*For the trouble he will get for either course of action, he might as well privatize the BBC outright. Make them grub around for their income. That way they will at least be preoccupied by looking for income.