Could UK public sector funding be at risk in the future?
As the various political parties in the UK continue to battle with the problem of increasing national debt there is a concern that funding for the public sector could be at risk. A report by the IFS has highlighted the ever increasing debt burden on the UK population with a suggestion that the Conservative Party may have to look at a public sector funding freeze over five years, if they regain power next year.
While any suggestion from the Conservative Party of a reduction in funding for the public sector could play into the arms of the Labour Party, it is something which needs to be considered. The UK public sector has mushroomed under the tenure of Gordon Brown with pension liabilities becoming more and more of an issue. It is obvious to anybody with an interest in government funding that the scenario of ever-increasing public sector investment cannot go on forever.
The situation of UK taxation is likely to be central to next year's general election but the issue of public sector investment will also be fairly high up the agenda. While Gordon Brown continues to maintain investment in public services is essential in the short, medium and longer term there is no doubt that employment dependence on this area has increased over the last few years. Whether we will see change in the short to medium term will depend upon who wins the next general election.
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