For over a decade, the Government has been pulling the ‘old money described as new money’ stunt.

Would you trust an acountancy firm that behaved like this?

Labour is rushing through £11bn of spending before the general election to prevent key projects being scrapped by an incoming Conservative government.

Despite the looming squeeze on public spending, ministers are trying to push through several massive computer contracts before ballot day, which is widely expected on 6 May. (Andrew Grice)

The government announced in 2008 that it was doubling money set aside to allow long-term carers some time off – £50m this year and £100m next year.

The Crossroads Care and Princess Royal Trust for Carers say only 23% of this year’s cash is being spent on carers. (BBCNews website)

Officials travelling with the Prime Minister in Helmand province indicated on Saturday that £100 million would be spent on 200 new vehicles to replace remaining Snatch Land Rovers, under the Urgent Operational Requirement budget.

However, Conservative officials said that the order was simply a repetition of an old commitment made in December 2008 by John Hutton, Defence Secretary at the time, for a programme to replace Snatch and the upgraded Snatch Vixen with “the next generation of Light Protected Patrol Vehicles (LPPV)”. A tender notice for up to 400 LPPVs was sent out in February 2009. (Times online)