Time for the PM to face hard facts and put people before party

ANOTHER day, another session of dissemblage and cover-up in the Commons over public expenditure and the state of the public finances. Both the government and the main opposition are locked into the politics of denial. The Conservatives seek to avoid allegations of substantial cuts in "front line" public services. But the more grotesque denial is that of the Prime Minister.

He at least has access to the Treasury books and thus no excuse for denying the necessity of spending cuts ahead if we are to avoid yet more borrowing.

Yesterday Mr Brown sought to avoid questions on spending reductions to rebalance the public fin...