Back into the thicket

I see from reference 1 this morning that the Stonehenge tunnel scheme has finally got the chop, a scheme which to my mind was a victory of the heritage lobby over the bean counters. One of the many tips of the heritage iceberg.

As usual, I thought it would be nice to see all this at the horse's mouth, and as is often the case it took me a little while to find it, buried as it was among a heap of stuff on GOV.UK. But I got there, and I think that the definitive list of savings is the table from reference 2 snapped above, somewhat camouflaged in among a whole lot of worthy stuff about the restoration of public finances.

We learn that, as is all so often the case, that a good chunk of the advertised savings are to be made by squeezing departmental budgets. All kinds of public services like funding research into the more effective pollination of dessert cherries and funding book festivals up and down the land will no doubt vanish. And perhaps, given that departments have already had years of this, some rather more vital services, like all the building inspectors needed to keep an eye on things like the cladding of tall buildings.

A rather smaller chunk will come from means testing the winter fuel payment. One short term effect of which may be that the balancing winter food bank payment I have been in the habit of making might stop too. We shall see.

Stonehenge rates a few words near the bottom. Next to ducking the charging reform of adult social care, yet again.

In the short term, I dare that this is the best that can be done. But along with the analysts, I worry that, huge majority in Parliament notwithstanding, the more difficult decisions will be ducked and our public infrastructure will continue to crumble.

PS 1: I might also say that I do not care for the loud banner at the top of the snap above. We abandon the common civilities in our public life at our peril, as should be obvious enough from just glancing across the pond.

PS 2: and being cynical, one wonders if provision for reforming the charging of adult social care was ever actually made. Is this a real saving or a media saving? But I am not going to dig into that one, it being nearly time for breakfast.

References

Reference 1: Axing of Stonehenge tunnel raises uncertainty for industry, warn analysts: Cuts to infrastructure projects cast doubt over Labour’s growth strategy - Financial Times reporters - 2024.

Reference 2: Fixing the foundations: Public spending audit 2024-25 - Presented to Parliament by the Chancellor of the Exchequer by Command of His Majesty - 2024.