The middle classes do not grasp the full scale of spending cuts that are about to hit them this year, Kenneth Clarke warned.
The Justice Secretary says David Cameron and the Coalition should brace themselves for serious political 'difficulty' when the true impact of the austerity drive is realised Photo: CLARA MOLDEN
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The Justice Secretary says David Cameron and the Coalition should brace themselves for serious political “difficulty” when the true impact of the austerity drive is realised.
In a grim assessment of the “calamitous” state of the economy, the former chancellor says he does not envisage “a quick rebound”. This puts him at odds with the Treasury, which believes the return to growth will be swift after the last quarter’s shock fall.
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he says: “One reason we’re going to get some political difficulty is that [while] the public knows we’ve got to do something about it, I don’t think Middle England has quite taken on board the scale of the problem.
“That will emerge as the cuts start coming home this year. We’ve got to get on with it [but] it’s going to be very difficult. If someone says it’s not as bad as all that, I say [they] just don’t realise the calamitous position we’re in.” Read More
