Partner Article

Can Osborne spend where it counts?

The Chief Secretary to the Treasury will detail the Government’s Spending Review this week as business wishlists have been signed, sealed and delivered.

Infrastructure spending is yet again top of the list for many commentators. The Chancellor has an opportunity, once again, to take to the box and talk infrastructure - but will there be a follow through? The National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) has been tinkered with, and successive governments have been heckled for their lack of work on long-term infrastructure plans, based on cross-party consensus.

Analysis suggests a wide North-South divide in transport spending - another indication that spending is perhaps misplaced.

So, the question is can Osborne move towards a clear long-term plan to get private investment on board, and will he do it where it counts?

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .