Conservatives signal cuts beyond £47bn pledge
The party says it will outline further savings at its Birmingham conference, but has not given a total for the additional cuts.
The UK Conservative Party says it intends to pursue government spending cuts beyond the £47bn in savings previously announced by leader Kemi Badenoch if it wins the next election. A party spokesperson said further savings would be set out at the Conservatives’ conference in Birmingham.
The statement follows leaked remarks by Andrew Griffith, now shadow chancellor, who told party members last October that shadow cabinet ministers had discussed making further savings across government. At the time, Griffith was shadow business secretary. The remarks describe discussions, not a final or costed programme.
The party spokesperson said the Conservatives would pursue further savings from welfare spending and tackle what it called wasteful spending. The spokesperson framed the proposals as part of a plan for a smaller state and a stronger economy.
Badenoch has separately announced £4bn in additional reductions: £2.5bn from international aid and £1bn from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She said half of those savings would fund 50,000 additional prison places.
The Conservatives have not specified the total value or detailed scope of the further savings discussed in Griffith’s remarks. The party says it will provide more detail in Birmingham.
