Osborne's cuts: the web reacts

Seven Whitehall departments have agreed to spending cuts announced by Chancellor George Osborne this morning. Justice, energy and communities are among the departments agreeing to "significant savings," while health, schools and foreign aid are to be spared.

The Ministry of Justice, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Energy and Climate Change, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Foreign Office and the Northern Ireland Office have all agreed to cuts of 8-10%.

Here's what's being said around the web.

Speaking to the BBC this morning, Osborne defended the savings, which he "found" a month ahead of the spending review deadline.

"The fact we have got big departments like the Ministry of Justice signed up to 10% reductions shows we are on track and there is a cabinet will behind delivering these necessary savings," he told the Today Programme.

Isabel Hardman wrote in The Spectator that Osborne used the annoucement, and his tour of the TV networks, as an opportunity to "prod Labour" and challenge them to come up with a better plan.

But the International Monetary Fund have warned against the "sweeping" reforms, calling for Osborne to slow down the pace of cuts, and come up with a "Plan B." The announcement, which TheIndependent called an "embarrassment" to the Chancellor, was made by David Lipton, deputy managing director as its annual check on the UK draws to a close.

In response to the IMF speech, shadow financial secretary to the Treasury, Chris Leslie had some harsh words for the Chancellor: "George Osborne should be asking himself what's gone wrong and taking action to get the economy growing strongly between now and 2015" he said. "Sadly he seems set to spend the next two years sticking to policies that are badly failing on living standards, growth and even deficit reduction."

But The Telegraph has taken Iain Duncan Smith's side, praising his suggestion that more money should be spent on defense and the police, at the expense of Work and Pensions. This "has got to be the right approach" according to Telegraph View.

The Express have also honed in on "harsh" Defense cuts set to top £1.6billion, as Osborne points out that "finding savings in the way the ministry of defence operates is essential."

The cuts have also been criticised by the Public Accounts Committee Chairman Margaret Hodge, who said Osborne's plans cuts were "ill thought-through."

And In this month's  Prospect, Paul Johnson reminds us that the special status held by the NHS, which has been spared by Osborne's latest reforms, has its consequences: "It is the protection afforded to health... that affects what is available for other departments."

But this is only the beginning. £8bn more in savings are still missing.

The spending review will be announced on 26th June.