Both of the main political parties have fired their first salvos in the battle over public spending. Chancellor Alistair Darling pledged ‘targeted public investment' would continue but also warned of a new era of ‘hard choices'. Education, major infrastructure projects, skills, climate change and long-term care were highlighted as areas of importance. But, with a deficit set to reach £175bn this year, he said ministers would not avoid difficult decisions. He said: ‘In the medium term, we need to live within our means. Not to do so would be equally irresponsible and damage our country's future.' Conservative leader, David Cameron, renewed his warning that Britain was living beyond its means. He said: ‘With a Conservative Government, public spending will be cut. ‘Decentralisation will massively cut the costs of state bureaucracy. Local government is officially the most efficient part of the public sector. ‘Councils achieve well in excess of the sector's spending review targets, beating central government savings by a country mile.'
