Incidentally, as a little light relief, someone yesterday estimated the Uk government has shaved £30bn off its benefits bill through its program of austerity. So when anyone considers how balanced the Uk budget now is, what has happened is that the Uk government is richer by £30 bn a year at the expense of the poorest section of society. Talk about tax hikes. Talk about transferring money from poor to rich. talk about the depressing effect of removing £30 bn from the everyday economy, handing it to the rich and them investing it in securities and buying up houses. Which, of course, just adds even more to the housing bills of the poor. Tory economic policy has been a disaster.