There are lies, damned lies and arguments about public spending. Of one thing, Britain’s voters can be certain: whatever is said by the politicians before the coming general election it will understate the pain to be felt afterwards.

David Cameron is bidding for first prize for candour. While Gordon Brown has been hiding from the implications of the dire state of the public finances, the Tory leader has become ever bolder in his promise to shrink the state. Forget talk of restraint, freezes or savings; vote Conservative, Mr Cameron proclaims, and you will get cuts, cuts and more cuts, all with a capital “C”.