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Legislative Programme and Budget Statement (Wales)

One thing must happen if we are going to address the deficit: the Opposition have to accept that there will be cuts. They have to recognise the areas in which they are going to accept them, but they have not done that so far. I respond to the hon. Gentleman’s second point by using the word ““compromise””. Our party has had to compromise. In our manifesto, there were proposals that I spent a great deal of time trying to persuade voters in my constituency to support, but that we cannot carry forward. That is because, no matter how often the Opposition claim it, this is not a Conservative Government—[Hon. Members: ““Yes it is.””] I know it is in the Opposition’s interest to cackle that it is, but the reality is that this is a coalition Government of two parties.