Spending cuts are inevitable - our troops though must remain a priority (Ashford Liberal Democrats)

Spending cuts are inevitable - our troops though must remain a priority

July 29, 2009 6:15 PM

My leader, Nick Clegg MP (right) has been right to question the Afghan strategy recently

Politicians are rarely associated with the words honesty and truth (unless they've put it in their election literature).

It is somewhat refreshing therefore that many of the political class are in agreement that government spending will have to be cut (or taxes will have to rise) in order to plug the black hole in our public finances.

The 'big two' have rushed to assure the electorate that Health and Education budgets are 'safe' under their watch - if that indeed is to be the case then other departments will come under serious pressure - with defence a favourite for major cuts.

This would be a serious misjudgement. My leader, Nick Clegg MP, has been right to question the Afghan strategy recently. Our Armed Forces are chronically under-funded and over-stretched. Lives are being "thrown away" - if we are to 'win' the war in Afghanistan then we need more resources, not less.

This inevitably prompts the question, what then should be cut? Well, ID Cards would be a good start, as would closing tax loopholes, but these options would only save a percentage point or two at best.

What is really needed is to shrink the responsibilities of government, devolve more power (and budgets) to local people, reduce government departments (why, with a devolved Scottish and Welsh system do we still have a Scottish and Welsh secretary?) and reduce the number of MPs at Westminster.

This is an honest approach, not offering a quick fix or a swift turn around. We're in a dire financial state in this country and only root and branch reform will dig us out of this hole.

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