People associate the party with excessive spending, reasonably enough.

The main problem in the past few years has been excessive spending in both the private and public sectors, leading to huge levels of debt.

Should we see this as a move to curb excessive spending?

Its financial fair-play regulations, which will come into force by 2012, aim to curb excessive spending on transfers.

It has prompted criticism of excessive spending at a time when hospitals are being forced to cut services for lack of funds.