Tories plan to extend cuts beyond £47bn previously pledged, leak reveals

Andrew Griffith’s comments suggest the Conservatives are planning to make cuts similar in scale to those made during the austerity years. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images

The Conservatives are planning to make sweeping cuts beyond the £47bn announced last year if they win the next election, according to leaked comments by the shadow chancellor.

Speaking last year when he was shadow business secretary, Andrew Griffith told Conservative members he and fellow shadow cabinet ministers had discussed making further cuts in “every part of government”.