After growth flat-lining and Labour going ten points ahead in one poll there is a distinct wobble being felt around Westminster about the cuts. The usually unflappable Speccie have today drawn in their breath about the NHS:

“Barack Obama may have been right to push healthcare reforms, but may nonetheless suffer for the timing and way he did it. The same may be the case for David Cameron.”

While Ben Brogan is quick to point out that Ed Balls is hurting Osborne and:

“…just because Mr Balls is wrong does not guarantee that Mr Osborne is right”

The keep calm and carry on coming from Downing Street is falling on increasingly deaf ears. The coalition are losing their lead in the blame game too. Guido is a little confused at how a £100m sale of some trees has become such a big story in comparison to the much larger swings Osborne has taken with his axe. Maybe it’s the imagery of literally cutting trees, or perhaps this is being allowed to flare up as a distraction for the more radical measures.