Speaking in an Opposition Day debate, Anne Main highlights the need for honesty and transparency, and calls for spending commitments to be properly funded.

After the debate, Anne said that ‘when spending commitments are made, all parties must outline how they will be paid for so people can make a proper judgment on the shape of the next parliament.

‘The public deserve to know where, when and how their money will be spent so they can make that judgement.’

Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con): This motion refers to

“sensible reductions in public spending”.

Does my hon. Friend know what these reductions are and how much they might raise, because there is no mention of that whatever? They are just a blank canvas.

Mr Newmark: I know, and I suspect Labour will be going into the election with a blank canvas, and no doubt voters will make their judgment on that.

| Hansard

...

Mrs Main: I hope that the hon. Gentleman can enlighten me. What are the “sensible reductions in public spending” proposed in the motion, and how much will they raise? I really would like to know, given that the motion mentions them.

Stewart Hosie: It is a Labour motion, and I might not even support it. I am merely pointing out that the Tory party told us that the current account would be back in the black, but it is not. We are borrowing almost £80 billion this year. The Tories’ austerity programme has failed.

| Hansard

...

Mrs Main: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Elections should be about honesty and transparency. The Labour party has mentioned spending cuts, but it is not telling us which it will make.

Mr Jackson: Absolutely. In more than two hours, we have not heard anything, except in relation to gun licences and, of course, the recycled bankers’ bonuses.

| Hansard