Liberal Democrats call in Tories to publish secret plans for public service cuts

6.00.00pm GMT Mon 28th Mar 2005

Vincent Cable MP speaking in Parliament

Dr Vince Cable MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor has called for the Conservative Party to publish in full the James Report proposals for cuts in investment in public services. The call comes after Howard Flight's admission of concealed Tory spending cut plans and the admission by George Osborne (Tory Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury) that the Tories have so far not publicly accepted some of the more politically sensitive James Report spending cut plans.

Dr. Cable said "The Liberal Democrat analysis shows that most of the existing James Report proposals are bogus and undeliverable. Now Howard Flight's comments and those of George Osborne confirm that the Tories have real plans for deeper cuts in front line health, education and policing. The only way for the Tory Party to clear up the uncertainty over their plans is for them to publish the real James Report in full. Until they do this, no elector in Britain can have any confidence in a secret cuts agenda and its implications for hospitals, schools and our police."