Some thoughts from our manifesto analysis. First just look at the scale of differences in tax and spending proposals. The Conservative manifesto offered almost nothing, Labour would try to implement record tax and spending increases taking us to highest ever peacetime levels

Though note that Labour& #39;s plans if implemented would take us to quite normal levels of tax and spend by West European standards

One big difference between Labour plans and what happens in other countries with bigger states is their plan not to raise taxes on most workers. There is no country anywhere which has public spending on the scale proposed by Labour without having higher taxes on average earners

The scale of austerity is well illustrated here. For public services other than health sending is still 15% below its 2010 peak and would remain there under Conservative plans. Labour would take it up again.