Spending Review: Johnson says cuts are "reckless gamble"

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Shadow Chancellor Alan Johnson says Osborne's Spending Review amounts to a "reckless gamble with people's livelihoods" and accused the government of being motivated by ideological reasons.

Johnson said although spending reductions are needed to reduce the deficit, the cuts outlined today risk stalling the recovery. "The deficit has to be paid down, but today's reckless gamble with people's livelihoods runs the risk of stifling the economy." He added: "In the context of deficit reduction, speed kills." He went on to slam the government for "perpetuating a series of myths" to justify its policies and said the Tories are motivated by ideology alone. Referring to the "deepest cuts in living memory" unveiled by the Chancellor he said: "For some members opposite (the go...

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