In these "difficult times"....

I keep on hearing the phrase "difficult times" from Brown and others, yet when I read that the cost of hosting the Cabinet in Birmingham was £61,920 (not including costs for local Police security) I find the word "profligacy" springing to mind.

I realise that some might say £61,920 isn't very much money in the scheme of things, but I imagine hosting the Cabinet in the Cabinet Room is much cheaper. At a time when everyone is having to tighten belts it just seems a tad wasteful.

Having said this there are marginal seats up there in places, so you can see why taxpayers money might be used to shore up some votes as well.