Government faces flak over finances

The OECD has urged the Government to be more 'explicit' regarding deficits

The Government has come under fresh fire over the state of the public finances, after a leading economic thinktank said it should be "more ambitious" over tackling the UK's soaring deficit.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD report on the UK economy called for "more explicit" spending cuts and tax rises to address a deficit expected to hit 14% of GDP by 2010.

The body's criticism comes just days after Bank of England Governor Mervyn King also demanded tougher goals from Chancellor Alistair Darling to reduce an "extraordinary" public deficit.

The OECD's economic survey of the UK said: "The schedule for rebalancing the budget after the current economic downturn abates should be more ambitious."

The UK is on course to borrow a record £175 billion this year as tax receipts are hammered by recession and spending on benefits and moves to bolster the economy soars.

The OECD said value-for-money savings made in November's Pre-Budget Report and April's Budget did not go far enough.

"There should be more explicit targeting of programmes for expenditure cuts and temporary revenue raising measures should be considered to help expedite the rebalancing of the budget," it added.

The think-tank forecasts debt as a proportion of national output will rise to 90% in 2010, with the unemployment rate nearing 10% next year.

The OECD's comments add to the political row which has blazed in recent weeks over the spending plans of both Labour and the Conservatives.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown wants to fight the next election on a platform of 'Labour investment versus Tory cuts', but the opposition has accused him of not being honest over the need for cutbacks in public services.