No easy answer

The UK is in debt up to its neck and it's predicted to more than double in the next two years. We are in serious shit. We need to either cut spending or raise taxes, or both. We've already tried printing money via quantitative easing and we're still in the shit, plus the value of our savings is being eroded by low interest rates and rising inflation. That's why Calton has little sympathy with those who are protesting against the latest benefit cuts. Our welfare system is bloated and unaffordable. It desperately needs reform, which is going to be painful. What is being ignored in the current arguments is the pain also being suffered by pensioners who see their life savings being eroded by low interest and high inflation. The pain suffered by workers who have not had a pay rise for years, for whom 1% would seem like a dream. Yes, we should be looking after the old, the sick and the vulnerable but we also seem to be looking after a lot of other people who do not fall into those three categories and that has to stop. The under-occupancy reduction in housing benefit needs to have some discretion built into to it for disabled people and for those who can't immediately find a smaller property but we really need to free up larger properties for families on the waiting lists and that seems to be getting forgotten about in all the hoo-ha. There's no easy answer to our nation's problems but one thing is for sure - spending our way out of debt is not an option.