Sneaking out announcement asking departments to model cuts of 3 per cent and 6 per cent is no way to manage public spending – John McDonnell

John
McDonnell MP, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor, commenting on reports that the Treasury has asked
government departments to prepare for cuts of 3 per cent and 6 per cent, for
2019/20, said:

“For
all Hammond’s talk of ‘resetting’ the Tory Government’s economic policy last
summer it is now beyond doubt that Hammond represents more of the same Tory
austerity.

"Sneaking out an announcement asking departments to model cuts of 3 per
cent and 6 per cent for 2019/20 is no way to manage public spending.

"Hammond urgently needs to explain why this announcement was made in the
way it was and why after seven years of failed austerity he thinks more of the
same will now work.”