Chancellor starts race to general election

In today’s Pre Budget Report, Alistair Darling has set out a continued commitment to existing investment in education, health and other major public sector programmes for the foreseeable future.

As expected, he is protecting major high-profile programmes, but this will inevitably need to be paid for by deeper cuts elsewhere.

There is also a commitment to sell assets that can be managed more effectively by the private sector – good news when linked to the drive for efficiency and the emergence of new service delivery models.

There was actually more reference in Darling’s PBR speech to the problems that were inherited a decade ago, than the achievements to date or initiatives for the future. This will clearly be one of the key battlegrounds in the run up to the general election…