GORDON BROWN’S new agenda for Government announced yesterday looked like Labour’s manifesto for the next General Election in all but name.

The announcement included proposals on a raft of measures for education, healthcare, housing, transport and, of course, the economy. At least no one can accuse the Government of lacking ideas.

But how much of it is actually new?

We have already heard about the Young Person’s Guarantee, which promises everyone under 25 a job or training place if they have been out of work for 12 months or more. It was announced in the Budget.

The digital broadband policy was unveiled in January, the floods bill was first floated in April, and reform of the House of Lords has been on the agenda for years.

So lots of old ideas repackaged, but what about the tough spending decisions that will have to be taken following a general election?

Labour, it seems, prefers to talk about spending. It is happy to leave the dire warnings about public spending cuts to the Tories. That is why there will be no spending review before the election, because such a thing would inevitably leave this Government no choice but to wield the axe.

Is this a deliberate ploy? Does the Government hope that, by saying nothing, the public will begin to associate cuts only with the Tories?

Is Gordon Brown pinning his hopes on a faster-than-expected recovery?

One thing is certain: we cannot go on spending at present levels. Britain’s current account has been exhausted, the country is living off its overdraft.

Spending cuts are inevitable, but can Gordon Brown win an election if he admits the unpalatable truth?