Programmes must be cut to rebalance UK finances, says minister, but schools and hospitals will still get 'sustained investment'

Britain will face a decade of 鈥渃onstraints鈥� in public spending, in a bid to 鈥渞ebalance鈥� UK finances, Lord Mandelson has said.

The business secretary said the country would be forced to implement 鈥渓ess spending in some programmes鈥�, but he insisted there would be 鈥渟ustained investment鈥� in areas such as healthcare and defence, according to the BBC.

Mandelson also added that he believed the downturn was 鈥渃oming to an end鈥�, but that its effects were 鈥渘ot yet behind us鈥�.

The government has come under fire in recent weeks from the Conservatives, who have accused ministers of hiding the true scale of cuts that are needed.

Peter Mandelson
Credit:
Mandelson: "a growing need for greater efficiency across the board, and less spending in some programmes"

Speaking to journalists at Westminster on Tuesday, Mandelson said: 鈥淥f course we will rebalance public finances in the medium term. There will be spending choices and a growing need for greater efficiency across the board, and less spending in some programmes,鈥� the BBC reported.

He refused to pinpoint exactly where these cuts would be made, but said 鈥渟ustained investment in schools and hospitals鈥� would continue.

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