Labour can slice it however they want, but more cuts is more austerity

Reducing public spending only makes society meaner, not leaner.

Rachel Reeves will make the Spring budget statement next week - and is expected to unveil public sector cuts Pic: UK Parliament/Flickr

Here’s the thing about austerity: you can only do it once.

It’s not like cutting grass or pruning hedges. You can’t trim back the state and expect it to grow back, fuller and stronger, next spring. Once you start, things u…