Good article. David Cameron was against the removal of the 10p tax band but stubbornly refused to commit to its restoration and he recently criticised post office and school closures in the countryside which I think would be a natural target for "efficiency savings".

Chris, Birmingham,

The last time the Tories were in the power every year at the Tory Conference every speaker used to stand up and announce how many cuts he was proud to make. The Chancellor would then announce an interest cut if it were needed or not and all would worship the leader. Surely we are not repeating.

How, Odiham, england

Any comments that refer to a govt being thieves, or stealing or money etc.. sounds moronic. Labour aren't sitting on a big pile of money somewhere; they aren't burning it. Even the waste (which is in the eye of the beholder) filters down into paypackets which then goes into local & nat econ. Sigh.

Ezra Mayo, Oxford,

The biggest budget eater by far is the ballooning welfare system. Get to grips with the benefit culture and there should be plenty to go round. However, as the author states, this will take many years to work through and wil prove unpopular. I hope that DC has the courage to see it through.

Brian Roberts , Plymouth, Devon

If parties can only announce their policies when they know the facts how on earth did John Major promise 'Tax Cuts Year on Year' in 1992? I seem to remember Heath doing the same in 1970 and Thatcher in 1979. You may not remember but instead of lowering taxes Geoffry Howe increased them.

Selwyn, Odiham, england

Is Labour pursuing a 'scorched-earth' policy?

They know they are going out at the next election so are they sowing the seeds of disaster to hamstring the Tories and hasten a Labour return.

Can Labour think long term?

Olaf, Broxburn, UK

you are right about the inheritance being messy - bit of an understatement. BUT you are wrong that it is difficult to fix. It simply requires an acceptance that much of the state machine is useless and should be scrapped - JUST DO IT!

Alastair Harris, DERBY,

For the last 15 years or so, if a Tory mentioned cutting expenditure as a percentage of GDP, the Labour party, echoed by the press, has screamed "Hospital closures! School closures!" Cameron's speech yesterday was dipping his toe in the water to test the temperature. Expect him to jump in soon.

Chas, London, UK

The way forward is to identify all the useless legislation that exists on the statute books and then repeal it. Then those charged with it's oversight can either be disbanded or redirected to exclusively useful work like policing, treating patients, teaching etc.

John, London, UK

Cameron will lay waste to public services just like Thatcher and Major before him. Oh, but he does have an education policy - children to read by 6 and be in bed by 7 I think.

Pat, SE13,

Your track record of negativity towards Labour is heavy on distortion of reality....no surprise there...............The lemming type avalanche of support for your views isnt surprising either........................Gordon Brown handled the economy very well for a decade.......be more realistic

Eric, Southwick, England

One of the big political questions is whether the public actually want the state to withdraw from many activities.

After all, Thatcher's reforms were hardly popular and look at today's rection to the closure of sub post offices.

Richard, Plymouth,

Just like the Queens Speech, Labour taunts the tories with policy issues and then steals them without any conscience.
Until the tories get in government they have no idea of the financial mess the country may be in. They are playing a waiting game on policy, the election manifesto is the key issue

Mike Palmor, Sheffield, UK

Short-term a new government can borrow all it needs. When challenged on the true National debt of over £2 Trillion the reply is that the government can borrow unlimited sums because so far noone can conceive of the government going bust. Interest is not a problem as inflation and tax wipe it out.

Brian Gilbert, HAMPTON, Middx

This is one of the most evil aspect's of Labour's rule. They have tried very hard to pre-empt the country's options under a future government by creating a set of accounts so dire that it cannot readily be improved. They have very nearly succeeded.

Ubi, Edinburgh, UK

Firstly, until the Tories can pore through the finances, they are as wise as the General Public. How many times do they need to keep making this vallid point?. Seem's to me, Labour keep yakkering on just to glean anything to thieve, and as usual announce as their own. UK probably bankrupt.

Beverley, Bilston, England