Not so drastic

Richard Graham, Conservative MP for Gloucester

For weeks, influential figures have made ever grimmer predictions about the cuts.

In our own Points West Debate the former Chief Constable of Gloucestershire dropped something of a bombshell.

Forget about shaving public spending, said Dr Tim Brain: "What we're talking about is losing an arm and a leg."

He estimated police forces could lose a quarter of their employees - if government cuts are at the top end of predictions.

They may not be.

It could serve the coalition well to paint things black at the moment.

The Conservative MP for Gloucester faced an angry union representative in our Politics Show West studio.

Richard Graham used to work in the pensions' industry, so knows a fair bit about money.

"There will have to be cuts," he stated. "But they may not have to be quite as drastic as the worst-case scenario being painted by some people."

His calm demeanour spoke volumes.

When we hear and see the true scale of the cuts, the thought may be: "It could have been a lot worse."