Leaked remarks by the shadow chancellor indicate the Conservative party has considered going further than the £47bn package of savings it unveiled last year.
According to the disclosure, Andrew Griffith told party members during remarks made last year — when he was serving as shadow business secretary — that he and colleagues on the shadow cabinet had discussed making additional savings "in every part of government" if the Conservatives were returned to power.
The comments, which emerged after being disclosed to journalists, suggest an appetite within the party to extend austerity-style measures beyond the commitments already set out. If pursued, such an approach would involve deeper reductions across multiple departments and public services.
The revelation is likely to sharpen debate ahead of the next general election over the scale and focus of public spending cuts. The extent to which any further proposals would be specified, phased or subject to parliamentary scrutiny was not detailed in the leaked remarks.