Any fool can raise taxes

"While austerity is the talk of the moment, there is no such talk when it comes to prestige projects. In the ­hothouse of Whitehall, the Olympics are like grand weapons platforms, ­mainframe computers, super-jails and giant wind turbines. They are backed by lobbyists, project managers and ­industries fat on government contracts. They have publicity traction and ­spending momentum…

"It is easy to tell a local council to close a swimming pool or library, shut a drug rehab centre or stop training for prisoners. But it takes guts to sink a Trident submarine or clip a hundred million off an Olympic ­velodrome. It upsets the people ministers meet at dinner. They do not have such courage these days." —Simon Jenkins