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Page last updated at 11:05 GMT, Sunday, 20 September 2009 12:05 UK

Clegg attacks Balls' 'silly idea'

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The Schools Secretary Ed Balls has suggested that he could reduce the education budget in England by about £2bn.

Mr Balls told the Sunday Times that education spending could be cut by axing thousands of senior staff and restraining pay.

Speaking to Andrew Marr as his party's annual conference started in Bournemouth, the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, described Mr Balls's proposals as "extraordinary" and "absolute madness".

READ TRANSCRIPT: Nick Clegg

SEE ALSO

Lib Dems offer 'change for real'(02.37)
Kennedy against fee policy u-turn(00.49)
Clegg won't 'play second fiddle'(01.51)
Clegg 'to slash cost of politics' (01.42)
Labour has 'lost control of finances'(01.30)
Brown tells TUC cuts are needed(01.58)
What might be squeezed by cuts?(03.02)

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