When are the Tories going to come clean about how they are going to pay for tax cut promises?

The Tories both nationally and locally have made rash promises that they have not attempted to cost. The Tories nationally have u turned from "got to cut the deficit now" to tax cuts for business, the inherited rich and married couples. Question is how are they going to pay for those promises and cut the deficit?

The Tories are complaining about Labour making up Tory cuts, but the facts are clear the promises have to be paid for somewhere and if the Tories are not being truthful and trying to deceive voters that it is only 'efficiencies' that will bring about a sizable amount of finances. The only way to end speculation about potential Tory cuts is to come clean and tell the truth and publish a full manifesto and not just empty promises that have not been costed.

I note that Cameron and co are not ring fencing Education and Policing spending. Therefore what does this mean for potential cuts in these budgets?

Locally the Tories have promised a zero increase in Council Tax for one year, in which millions of pounds will have to be found and to restore weekly bin collections which will cost at least £1.5m.

These uncosted promises are coming from the Tory group, who were scared to come out of their room when it came to a crucial vote in the Full Council Budget Setting meeting. They state that it was not "cuts across the board" but efficiencies and yet, like their national counterparts they have not been specific as to how these efficiencies can be achieved. As a Cabinet Member for Children's Services we agonised for hours and days over what constituted an efficiency saving and what was a cut. The notion of back office staff is a very difficult concept to identify. The Labour Administration has identified over £7m of savings with no impact on front line services and more to come. But not enough for a zero percent council tax increase. Selling off Council Houses, stopping full elderly care and cutting Children's Services, such as Sure Start will get a one off council tax zero percent increase.

Tell the public the truth now, it is the least they deserve!

Weekly grey bin collections

The fact is that Reading already has a weekly bin collection. A grey bin and a red bin, and also a green bin. This has contributed to one of the best recycling rates for a council in the country. The Tories only pay lip service to recycling and the environment and they have gone back on their full support for environmentally friendly bin collections in Reading. I don't believe for one second that the public will be duped by this gimmick that will adversely affect recycling and will cost millions of pounds in restructuring the bin collection service and millions of pounds in landfill taxes that will penalise this council.

They are clearly not fit to run Reading.

Day Two

Two hours leafletting around Southcote, Ashampstead Road, Gainsborough Road and Worcester Close.