Public spending
‘Gordon Brown is to issue a list of specific spending cuts before the general election in an attempt to convince voters that Labour will reduce the soaring deficit in public finances.’ – Andrew Grice, The Independent
‘All the more reason to discuss where, and how, the axe might fall in a sensible and pragmatic manner. There are programmes that can be delayed or cancelled. We would name identity cards, and the computerisation of the Health Service, as well as Trident, as three of them.’ – Leader, The Independent
‘Any Gordon Brown break has always been something of a busman’s holiday. While he will have been away from Downing Street for most of August, mostly in his Scottish constituency, he has been thinking hard about the central issue in politics: how to curb public spending.’ – Andrew Grice, The Independent
Afghan election results due
‘Preliminary results in Afghanistan’s presidential elections are set to be announced on Tuesday, the country’s election commission has said.’ – BBC
‘Fraud in Afghanistan’s presidential election may have compromised as many as one in five ballots, a UN official warned today , compounding fears that ballot-stuffing, intimidation and other irregularities could have a decisive impact on the vote.’ – Jon Boone, The Guardian
Brown to meet Netanyahu
‘UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is due to hold talks with Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the future of the Middle East peace process.’ – BBC