David James has called on the government to implement his cost-cutting programme for Whitehall.

Interviewed in the Telegraph, James, whose report identifying £35bn of efficiency savings was the foundation of the Conservative Party's election campaign, said he could make the cuts "without breaking into a sweat".

He said: "We put a huge amount of work into this and it is a tragedy for the country if it does not deliver.

"We cannot afford to wait another five years while Labour risks more costs and inefficiencies. You can't trust Labour to deliver efficiencies to the management of an ice lolly stand.

"I would like to see the government, with the full backing of the Conservatives, make a public commitment to shred the Gershon report.

"I want Labour to kick out Gershon and replace it with the James report as it's a blueprint for solving the inefficiencies in public life. Otherwise it will just gather dust on the shelf. Otherwise a calamity will befall this nation."