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IFS: Electorate 'left in the dark' by political parties

None of the top political parties has provided "anything like full details" on plans to cut the deficit in the next Parliament, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has said.

The IFS said the electorate had been left "somewhat in the dark" over the size and scale of cuts planned by the Tories, Labour, Liberal Democrats and SNP.

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SNP: We will borrow more as it is 'what the public want'

SNP: We will need more borrowing as 'it's what public want' Credit: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Campaigning in Edinburgh, Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney has responded to the IFS analysis of the parties' spending proposals and criticised George Osborne for using the figures during campaigning.

I accept the analysis of the IFS that the SNP's proposal will result in more borrowing than is proposed by the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat parties on the proposition that we've put forward of increasing public spending by half a percent in real terms.

I accept that because that's what the public are calling out for. They're fed up with austerity and they want a clear voice to say austerity has got to come to an end and the investment in our public services and our public infrastructure has got to recommence.

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