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02/04/2010 | Cutting the debt | Life after Westminster

How do the three main contenders to be Britain's Chancellor plan to reduce the country's enormous mountain of debt? And is there 'Life After Westminster' for MPs who are leaving parliament for good?

Britain's election campaign appears to be underway with the three main contenders to be Chancellor setting out their plans to reduce the enormous mountain of debt. But as the polls narrow, it's clear the public aren't sure what the politicians are going to cut. And as MPs prepare for the campaign, some are leaving Parliament for good - Politics UK talks to three departing MPs about life after Westminster.
Presented by Norman Smith.

Britain needs to find some way of reducing its 拢167bn annual deficit but with the election fast approaching, none of the parties has yet spelt out in detail how spending will be reduced. William Keegan of the Observer and Allister Heath of the business newspaper, City A.M., discuss how serious the cuts are going to have to be.

Almost one-third of current MPs have decided not to stand for re-election this year and for many, leaving parliament will be a huge wrench. Labour's Tony Wright, the Liberal Democrats' Matthew Taylor, and Conservative Paul Goodman are among those who will be standing down. They look back over their careers and reveal what leaving the Commons will mean for them.

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Sat 3 Apr 2010 03:32GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Apr 2010 11:32GMT
  • Fri 2 Apr 2010 15:32GMT
  • Fri 2 Apr 2010 23:32GMT
  • Sat 3 Apr 2010 03:32GMT

成人快手 World Service Archive

This programme was restored as part of the World Service archive project