Conerted Lurker my friend I agree with what you say however the assertion that during the economic downturn they'll cut services is not how the Labour mob see it. Size of government grows regardless of the outside weather only the tax receipts fall/rise. I wish we had a government that would utter the tabboo phrase of "public spending cuts" especially during this downturn. However it's not so much the government or any single politicial party that worries me as the public whom are the classic example of sheep along with convientently short memories. If things improve sooner rather than later then Labour will be parading around telling everyone how it was them that 'saved us'. The significant proportion of the public will believe them in order to swing back to the labour side.