Major Tory Pledges - But Where Will Axe Fall?

In an election clash on health policy, one of the biggest Westminster parties is accusing the other of fiscal irresponsibility.

Sounds like a Tory attack on Labour, doesn't it?

But in 2015, this accusation is flying in the opposite direction.

Labour is hitting out at the Conservatives for making a big promise to boost annual NHS spending by £8bn a year that they say is "unfunded" and "unbelievable".

And it isn't the first major pledge from the Tories that is not accompanied with a detailed breakdown of how it will be afforded.

David Cameron's party is offering tax cuts and a rail fare freeze, too, as well as a commitment to eliminating the deficit and pushing Britain into surplus before the end of the next Parliament.

But we are not clear on exactly where the axe will fall.

Some £12bn from the welfare bill doesn't tell us who will be hit and when.

A promise to cut back on government departments doesn't explain which ones and by how much.

So why would a Prime Minister who prides his reputation for economic competence take the risk of these fiscally loose promises?

If you listen to the message from the Tories, it is what they call an issue of "trust".

They think that stressing their "track record" over the past five years - which includes making heavy cuts, reducing the deficit but also boosting spending on the NHS in real terms - will make voters believe them.

They think that because of a polling lead on the issue of economic competence they have built up a reputation for fiscal responsibility.

And now, with an election in sight, they are spending that capital with glee with a series of pre-election giveaways.

They know Labour has no such luxury. Its challenge is to counter public perceptions in the opposite direction; to convince voters that they can indeed be trusted with the economy.

But there is a risk to this Conservative strategy. After all, Ed Miliband's party thinks it sniffs a weakness. It will now go out of its way to highlight any funding gaps in Tory plans.

Take the health plans.

Labour's response has been to lay out its own policies for the NHS, that it says are fully funded by a mansion tax, a

tobacco levy and crackdown on avoidance.

The party's advisers are also highlighting Mr Cameron's own words in January that the "real risk to the NHS is the risk of unfunded spending commitments bringing chaos to our economy".

The Tories say that Labour's attitude is to pay for everything with a "tax rise" instead of focusing on a strong economy.

But they will have to beware these Labour attacks.

Their reputation on the economy may be solid - but these things are never unbreakable.