WITH an unprecedented financial millstone hanging round our necks, we all know that spending cuts in the public sector are inevitable and that job losses will be part of the price to be paid for bailing out the banks.

The management of those inevitable public service cuts is one of the biggest post-election issues facing this country and yet the political parties are treating it like barefooted dancers on hot coals.

On one hand, the parties want to be seen to be bold and trustworthy in their handling of Britain’s mammoth debt, while on the other, they are desperate to avoid being branded as job-cutters.

All three main parties have acknowledged that public sector jobs will have to go, but their reluctance to go into detail is bordering on dishonesty.

Treasury Minister Stephen Timms went as far as to admit that Labour’s plan to make £15bn in efficiency savings this year would lead to fewer jobs being available.

But David Cameron is kidding himself – and the country – if he really believes that an additional £12bn in cuts can be achieved through not filling vacancies, rather than cutting jobs.

One of the consequences of a tight economy is a slowdown in turnover.

That has been the experience of the private sector, and the public sector will surely follow that trend.

There will be fewer vacancies in the public sector and whoever forms the next government will have no choice but to swing the axe.

Just don’t expect any of the parties to be that explicit before May 6.