@ChrisMayLA6

There is rather more redistribution in the #comprehensivespendingreview than would appear at first reading. However it has taken the form of #socialtransfersinkind - usually abbreviated to #STIK - rather than cash. #nhs spending has been estimated to have a particularly strong redistributive effect so the concentration of growth in day to day spending on health will have turbocharged this. So quite a strong case can be made - but not clear #labour communications are up to it!

@ChrisMayLA6

I suspect that the delay is a 'knock on effect' of the shift over winter fuel allowance - it may hopefully be part of an orderly retreat from untenable positions ahead of the elections next May - sorting out winter fuel in the #comprehensivespendingreview next month and then finding the money to address child poverty in the autumn budget - either by magic or through recourse to taxation! Although that may be expecting too much of #morganmcsweeney as a political strategist!

@ChrisMayLA6

If it is to be effective by November this year it will need to be included in the #comprehensivespendingreview - due out on 11th June - and will need to be as simple as possible to introduce. The most obvious way to do this would be to reinstate winter fuel as a universal payment but take it into account for tax purposes - as happens anyway with the state pension.

@ChrisMayLA6

It will clearly make the discussions within government in the run up to the forthcoming #comprehensivespendingreview - due to be finished by June - rather more fraught. However it will also do wonders for the finances of any surviving #definedbenefit pension schemes by im proving the return on low risk investments!

@ChrisMayLA6

What is significant - in my view at least - is that the final part of the Casey review is likely to coincide with the preparation of the next but one #comprehensivespendingreview .