Thursday 21 October 2010 at 10.30pm on BBC Two Presented by Gavin Esler The Prime Minister David Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg today rejected claims that the Spending Review cuts were "unfair". The leading independent economic analysts, the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said George Osborne's measures were the deepest cuts since World War II and would hit the poorest harder than the better off. Tonight Paul Mason will explain how the IFS reached its conclusion. Matt Prodger is in Blaenau Gwent, one of the most deprived areas of Wales, to speak to people there about their reaction to the Spending Review. Gavin Esler has been talking to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith about the job and welfare cuts and how he expects people to cope. Mr Duncan Smith insists it isn't an "on your bus" moment, but his message for those without work is that "the jobs always don't come to you, sometimes you need to go to the jobs". Watch a clip here. Also tonight - what will the impact of the Spending Review be on law and order? Police spending has been cut by 20%, there'll be reduction in the prison population and cuts to courts. David Grossman has been in the West Midlands examining the implications and we'll be debating the issues raised with the policing minister and a former Attorney General. Our Political Editor Michael Crick will consider the impact of the cuts to local government - and hears about the "real concerns" of one Tory Council Leader. And later in the programme Gavin will be joined by Dame Joan Bakewell and Stanley Johnson to discuss why the chancellor decided to retain universal benefits for the elderly including free eye tests, free prescription charges, free bus passes, winter fuel payments and free TV licences for the over 75s. What does this say about the ideology of the chancellor's review and the Coalition more widely? Join us at 10.30pm on BBC Two. |