Comments on: Public spending – any light amidst the heat? http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/public-spending-any-light-amidst-the-heat/ Politics, brains, social action and the day to day life of the RSA’s chief executive Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:39:05 +0000 hourly 1 By: ad http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/public-spending-any-light-amidst-the-heat/comment-page-1/#comment-3199 ad Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:09:56 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2270#comment-3199 "Whether by accident or design the Opposition are in the position that whatever Labour says on spending constraint it has to seem tougher." If Labour promise to cut "waste", the Opposition can ask why they have not cut that waste already. And if both parties promise painful necessary cuts, at least the Tories can blame Labour for the necessity of painful cuts. And by promising cuts in Parliament, the Tories have at least promised to share the pain themselves. (Although I imagine that the prospect of office will draw the sting.) “Whether by accident or design the Opposition are in the position that whatever Labour says on spending constraint it has to seem tougher.”

If Labour promise to cut “waste”, the Opposition can ask why they have not cut that waste already.

And if both parties promise painful necessary cuts, at least the Tories can blame Labour for the necessity of painful cuts. And by promising cuts in Parliament, the Tories have at least promised to share the pain themselves. (Although I imagine that the prospect of office will draw the sting.)

]]> By: Paul Evans http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/public-spending-any-light-amidst-the-heat/comment-page-1/#comment-3198 Paul Evans Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:26:35 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2270#comment-3198 I'd suggest that a part of Labour's problem is that the pubic sector itself has become hollowed out. A large proportion of us divide into public sector / private sector tribes in our early working years and - despite what policymakers imagine - the two are not particularly interchangeable cultures. Labour - like the Conservatives before them - have imagined that this isn't the case and driven a lot of people who do public sector things in a public sectory way into the ranks of the vocationally confused. If you threatened to sack a lot of public sector workers twenty years ago, you'd have some fallout to deal with. Now, lots of people who don't think they work in the public sector quietly approve. It's now too late for Labour to do much about this.... I’d suggest that a part of Labour’s problem is that the pubic sector itself has become hollowed out.

A large proportion of us divide into public sector / private sector tribes in our early working years and – despite what policymakers imagine – the two are not particularly interchangeable cultures.

Labour – like the Conservatives before them – have imagined that this isn’t the case and driven a lot of people who do public sector things in a public sectory way into the ranks of the vocationally confused.

If you threatened to sack a lot of public sector workers twenty years ago, you’d have some fallout to deal with. Now, lots of people who don’t think they work in the public sector quietly approve. It’s now too late for Labour to do much about this….

]]> By: matt http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/public-spending-any-light-amidst-the-heat/comment-page-1/#comment-3196 matt Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:17:15 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2270#comment-3196 I think that Labour has looked reactionary - first Libya and the IRA, now spending cuts - whereas the Tories have looked prescient. However, I think you're right, there is still room for a decent debate here. It's about the right kind of prescience. The Tories have seen the future and it inolves rebalancing the books. But what else does it involve? There are other pressing long-term problems that need to be woven into the 'after the crash' narrative - notably changing demographics, climate-change, entrenched inequality and public engagement in politics. There is no reason Labour can't present a coherent vision of how to respond to these problems. Whether it will or not is another matter. I think that Labour has looked reactionary – first Libya and the IRA, now spending cuts – whereas the Tories have looked prescient. However, I think you’re right, there is still room for a decent debate here. It’s about the right kind of prescience. The Tories have seen the future and it inolves rebalancing the books. But what else does it involve? There are other pressing long-term problems that need to be woven into the ‘after the crash’ narrative – notably changing demographics, climate-change, entrenched inequality and public engagement in politics. There is no reason Labour can’t present a coherent vision of how to respond to these problems. Whether it will or not is another matter.

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