Politicians need to budget the public finances for the long-term, not pander to voters with short-term palliatives, the incoming president of Cipfa told its annual conference.

Mike Owen, director of resources at Bury MBC, told delegates: ‘We need governments to budget for the medium to long-term, to invest strategically in growth and to invest in early interventions for the benefit of further generations, rather than tempting the voters of today with short-term policies that are electorally appealing now but, ultimately, put back even further the point of fiscal balance.'