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David Cameron said the cuts may not be as painful as people think
David Cameron has urged people across the UK to put public spending cuts "into perspective".
He said that the cuts - of up to 40% in some government departments - may not be as painful as people think.
The prime minister sought to dampen fears over the austerity measures in newspaper interviews on the eve of the Conservative conference in Birmingham.
</div> Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has warned that a "double dip" recession is still a real possibility.
Mr Cameron told the News of the World: "Let's put these cuts into perspective. Many businesses have had to make far greater reductions than us in one year."
He also told the Sunday Telegraph that the UK economy was now out of the "danger zone" and the country was once again "open for business".
On defence cuts, Mr Cameron said: "It's inevitably a difficult process but I'm very confident that we will complete it and we will have a more strategic, thought-through, more clear defence posture that we can win widespread support for.
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"At the same time we will give everything to our troops in Afghanistan that they need. Of course the Treasury and the MoD have to have discussions and they are lively discussions.
"Yes, there are difficult decisions, but we will have some amazingly capable defence forces with some of the latest equipment in the world, including more Chinook helicopters."
Mr Cameron's remarks come after the leak of a letter from Defence Secretary Liam Fox warning of "grave consequences" of making "draconian" cuts at the Ministry of Defence at a time of war.
The cuts will be a major issue at the Tories' four-day annual party conference, which starts in Birmingham on Sunday.
Former chancellor Mr Clarke told the Observer he was more downbeat than others about the prospects for the UK economy.
He said: "I'm at the more pessimistic end. I'm not sunnily optimistic about where the Western economy is going."
Mr Clarke said the chances of the UK entering another recession were "below 50%", but added: "I do not rule out the risk of a double-dip recession caused by some fresh wave of global fear and crisis."
In the interview, however, he stressed his complete commitment to the coalition's plans for spending cuts.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
David Cameron said the cuts may not be as painful as people think David Cameron has urged people across the UK to put public spending cuts "into perspective".
He said that the cuts - of up to 40% in some government departments - may not be as painful as people think.
The prime minister sought to dampen fears over the austerity measures in newspaper interviews on the eve of the Conservative conference in Birmingham.
</div> Meanwhile, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has warned that a "double dip" recession is still a real possibility.
Mr Cameron told the News of the World: "Let's put these cuts into perspective. Many businesses have had to make far greater reductions than us in one year."
He also told the Sunday Telegraph that the UK economy was now out of the "danger zone" and the country was once again "open for business".
On defence cuts, Mr Cameron said: "It's inevitably a difficult process but I'm very confident that we will complete it and we will have a more strategic, thought-through, more clear defence posture that we can win widespread support for.
A special BBC News season examining the approaching cuts to public sector spending
Welfare benefit reforms unveiled Spending Review: Making It Clear
"At the same time we will give everything to our troops in Afghanistan that they need. Of course the Treasury and the MoD have to have discussions and they are lively discussions.
"Yes, there are difficult decisions, but we will have some amazingly capable defence forces with some of the latest equipment in the world, including more Chinook helicopters."
Mr Cameron's remarks come after the leak of a letter from Defence Secretary Liam Fox warning of "grave consequences" of making "draconian" cuts at the Ministry of Defence at a time of war.
The cuts will be a major issue at the Tories' four-day annual party conference, which starts in Birmingham on Sunday.
Former chancellor Mr Clarke told the Observer he was more downbeat than others about the prospects for the UK economy.
He said: "I'm at the more pessimistic end. I'm not sunnily optimistic about where the Western economy is going."
Mr Clarke said the chances of the UK entering another recession were "below 50%", but added: "I do not rule out the risk of a double-dip recession caused by some fresh wave of global fear and crisis."
In the interview, however, he stressed his complete commitment to the coalition's plans for spending cuts.
This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.