“Chancellors always talk up the positive numbers,” he says, “but we’re not out of austerity; we’re nowhere near out of austerity. There are still big spending cuts and big social security cuts to come.”Facebook Twitter Pinterest Johnson says the chancellor, Philip Hammond, will indulge in some self-congratulation for meeting austerity targets, but warns there are still big spending cuts to come. “If you look at the period up to 2013/14, spending came down without big political consequences or things falling apart. Brexit, plus our ageing population and the resultant pressure on health, pensions and social care, means something has to give. If we want better health care, social care, education, transport, we are all going to have to stump up.

Source: The Guardian March 09, 2018 17:15 UTC