Minister says 75% cuts coming

Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change Greg Barker (left) was speaking at an event at a School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He is reported telling the audience: "We are making cuts that Margaret Thatcher in the 1980s could only have dreamt of."

Conservative, Greg Barker is also believed to have told his audience that the government plan to cut spending by 75%. The event was reported in University of South Carolina's official newspaper, the Daily Gamecock, who also record: "Barker began his speech by outlining Britain's budget crisis and expressing the Conservative commitment to austere measures as a solution, saying his colleagues plan to cut spending by 75 percent." 

I understand no retraction has taken place at this point. Let me just remind folk that these cuts are not necessary - yes we need to tackle the deficit - but see here the alternatives. Indeed Clegg admitted last month that it was the government's political choice to cut further and faster than any other major country in the world. Already there is evidence that the deep cuts are hurting but not working.