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11/08/2009
'Progressive' Tory Public Spending Plans
A "progressive" Tory government would cut spending without affecting front line services, the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne has said.
Mr Osborne denied the Conservatives planned to hike VAT up to 20%, and cited Sweden as a model for effective educational spending.
Branding his party as the new "progressive force" in British politics, the Shadow Chancellor said "overspending" by the current government should not see the public "over-taxed".
Mr Osborne said savings could be made on public services, such as schools, by allowing independent providers into the state sector.
This is common practise in Sweden, where contracts for computers, text books and land are largely negotiated.
The system has also forced the state bureaucracy to reduce its costs, he claimed.
Mr Osborne said: "Because of the debt crisis the country faces we have a choice. You can either reform the way these services are delivered - so the money goes further and you get more for less - or you can face frontline service cuts.
"Because Labour has no plans to reform public services... if the Labour government was re-elected there would be frontline service cuts," he said.
"It is the Conservatives, as the progressive force in British politics, now who are thinking seriously about how you change the way you deliver public services so you can improve the quality of service delivery even in a period of budget restraint."
(PR/KMcA)
Mr Osborne denied the Conservatives planned to hike VAT up to 20%, and cited Sweden as a model for effective educational spending.
Branding his party as the new "progressive force" in British politics, the Shadow Chancellor said "overspending" by the current government should not see the public "over-taxed".
Mr Osborne said savings could be made on public services, such as schools, by allowing independent providers into the state sector.
This is common practise in Sweden, where contracts for computers, text books and land are largely negotiated.
The system has also forced the state bureaucracy to reduce its costs, he claimed.
Mr Osborne said: "Because of the debt crisis the country faces we have a choice. You can either reform the way these services are delivered - so the money goes further and you get more for less - or you can face frontline service cuts.
"Because Labour has no plans to reform public services... if the Labour government was re-elected there would be frontline service cuts," he said.
"It is the Conservatives, as the progressive force in British politics, now who are thinking seriously about how you change the way you deliver public services so you can improve the quality of service delivery even in a period of budget restraint."
(PR/KMcA)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
