Some of England burns so does PFM go out with the flames?

[John Short]

Sitting in Lyon doing grandson sitting in preparation for the start of the Top 14, I have been dumfounded at the events in England that have been presented on Sky News the past few days.  Some interesting public expenditure issues have been mooted during Press Reviews – Police Cuts must be reversed being the main one.  But if so, what else should be cut to make way, as, given the US S and P impact, it is unlikely the markets will greet any relaxation on deficit reduction targets with joy?  Or is the answer, acceleration in Police efficiency measures and the overall configuration of police resources and how they are managed within the overall resource envelop that they have been allocated?  Do one-off (hopefully) emergency situations require a reversal of spending plans or is this just the reason for having a Contingency Allowance in the overall total? 

[petagny]

My general view - expressed elsewhere - is that the cuts go too deep too soon (the view also of the new head of the IMF - see today's FT). But once decided, the Government needs to hold the line - which it seems to be doing. The cuts are only just beginning to bite and there will be 'special cases' emerging from all corners as the pips begin to squeak. Cuts to the police force did not cause the riots, but the timing is convenient for vested interests wanting to preserve the status quo.