Andy Burnham MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to George Osborne’s comments on policing and security on Marr ahead of this week’s Spending Review, said:

“People will be worried to hear George Osborne digging in on cuts to the Police. It’s not good enough when the safety of the country is at issue. 

"One of the most senior police officers in the land has written to Osborne to say cuts over 5 per cent would be damaging and over 10 per cent would be dangerous. He has been told in no uncertain terms that he has to consider the national policing budget alongside the budget for counter-terrorism. Osborne must protect front-line policing. 

"Even at this eleventh hour, the Chancellor must listen to that advice and scale back his proposed cuts to the Police. He can’t be allowed to dig in and damage national security with his dogmatic approach to deficit reduction. Osborne must put his political pride aside and put the safety of the country first.”