Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Stephen insisted that his comments were not a "whinge about cuts".

BBC: UK Politics

But instead the summer has been one long whinge from Alex Salmond.

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Small firms whinge that bigger ones get most of the concessions.

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With the US Department of Justice already investigating antitrust concerns relating to the case, the other big dogs just couldn't restrain themselves from coming together for a united whinge.

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Australia showed there could be no off-field excuses for not going the whole way, but fans in England, the Caribbean and at home in South Africa could all be forgiven a good whinge.

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This is usually an epic whinge-athon, at the best of times, ( I doubt history records any instance of an MP telling a minister their patch has been given too much funding) but with local councils and police forces facing an unprecedented squeeze, the minister may face an even rougher ride than usual.

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