Reform think tank recommends 1 million public-sector jobs cuts
The Reform think tank has today issued a report which recommends that the UK government should reduce employment numbers within the public sector, specifically the NHS and the police, by 1 million in order to save £27 billion a year. The 15% reduction in headcount is a number which no political party is willing to commit to because ultimately it could be a significant vote loser as we approach the next general election.
While there is no doubt that the UK public sector needs to be trimmed, with even Gordon Brown yesterday appearing to attack the sector, there is a need to maintain some form of balance. However, the truth is that the UK public sector has become bloated over the last 10 years and many people believe this has had a "masking" impact on the overall UK unemployment situation. So what next?
While there is no chance we will see a 1 million job cull in 1 million years there is every chance we will see a significant reduction in the headcount of "non-frontline" services. The chances are we will only find out the details of any potential changes after the next general election when so many governments suddenly decide to "change their minds" because of the changing political and economic environment.
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