It’s unfortunate or maybe even disastrous for those affected.
However, the root cause of this is the ridiculous expansion of the public sector headcount over which the previous government presided. The level of public sector employment was clearly unsustainable and has to be tackled.
The trick will be for local authorities to make the cuts by minimising the effect on essential services. The “Diversity Advisers” and “Five-A-Day Ccoordinators” should go, but I doubt they will.
Incidentally, jake, you may find that the money paid to bankers in bonuses is actually better value for the taxpayer. These bonuses will attract 50% Income Tax, 10% National Insurance and 20% VAT on most of the rest as it is spent. If it is retained in the companies as profits it will only be taxed at the 24% Corporation Tax rate. Just a thought.