The language of cuts

Who can forget Tony Blair's verb-free speeches? At times New Labour seemed to have its own language.

This was his conference speech, heading for a record third term in Brighton in 2004:

Record economic stability in the first term. Record investment in the second. Record numbers of jobs in both. A fairer Britain, yes.

The NHS safe in the patient's hands. Life made easier for families. More choice for mums at home and at work. Security and dignity for everyone in retirement. Our country and its people prospering in the knowledge economy.

OK, maybe the biggest shock from this nostalgia is how the optimism crashed and burned, but it's also worth looking at the change in the language now being used in government.

This is the first press release from the Lib-Con Coalition's new Efficiency and Reform group, headed by Sussex MP Francis Maude, I've highlighted the verbs:

The group's first priorities, with immediate effect, will be to:

Conduct centralised procurement for commodity goods and services to drive down prices;

Implement an immediate freeze on all new ICT spend above £1 million;

Review the Government's biggest projects to see where costs can be reduced or wasteful projects stopped altogether;

Start renegotiating contracts with major suppliers across Government to reduce costs;

Freeze all new advertising and marketing spend. Only essential campaigns will be allowed;

Cut spend on Civil Service expenses, including a clamp down on first class travel and on the number of Government cars; ..

And it goes on... Freeze, Renegotiate, Sign-off, Clamp down, Eradicate duplication...

Strong words. And they'll need strength to carry it through.

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