The deteriorating state of UK public finances

The BBC have done their best to hide theirreport on The Centre for Business and Economic Research (CEBR) findings that "a £100bn programme of cuts and tax rises is needed to repair the UK's public finances." This major story that blows a hole through Gordon Brown's claims that public spending will not be cut under a Labour government is not one of the nine main Business news stories instead it sits as the top "More From Business" story. The BBC report includes this rather bland reportage:

"The CEBR says that if the Conservative party wins the next general election then the deficit will be plugged with £20bn in tax rises and £80bn in spending cuts.

And it says if Labour holds on to power then it predicts £40bn in tax rises and £60bn in spending cuts.

"It is likely that any government - particularly a new one - will be forced by political necessity to announce its fiscal consolidation programme early while it is still possible to blame the need for it on the previous government," said CEBR chief executive Douglas McWilliams. "

No denying comment from Gordon Brown? No acceptance or denial comment from Alistair Darling? No comment at all from anyone? No article by Nick Robinson or Robert Peston on the myth of Tory Cuts v Labour Investment?

Anyone would think that the BBC were trying to bury this story... I wonder how soon they will dare to drop it off the "More Business Stories" list?