David Cameron has insisted that the Government was administering its programme of spending cuts in a "fair" way, with the richest in society shouldering the greatest burden.
In a podcast on the No 10 website, the Prime Minister acknowledged that the country faced a "hard road", with benefits frozen or cut and Government departments forced to find savings.
"I don't underestimate how difficult this will be," he said.
However he said that drastic action had been essential - slashing the deficit by £81 billion over just four years - in order to rebuild Britain's economy for the future.
"We didn't just do the right thing, we did it the right way. We've gone about these spending cuts in a way that is fair and in a way that promotes economic growth and new jobs," he said.
"Fair because if you look at the figures, you'll see the highest earners aren't just paying more in cash, they are paying more as a percentage of their income. As we promised, those with broader shoulders are bearing a greater burden. What's more we've chosen to protect the services that families rely on, like the health service, schools, and social care."
His comments reflect the acute sensitivity within the coalition to accusations that Chancellor George Osborne's spending review, announced on Wednesday, would hit the poor hardest. Analysis by the respected Institute for Fiscal Studies found that - apart from the richest 2%, who would be caught by tax rises announced under Labour - the burden of cuts would fall disproportionately on the poorest.
The charge that the spending review was "regressive" is particularly damaging to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg who has said the Liberal Democrats would ensure fairness as the deficit was cut.
In his podcast, Mr Cameron said that the spending review had also been designed promote economic growth, focusing what resources were available on wealth creation and boosting enterprise. "We're going to make the next decade the most entrepreneurial in Britain's history, and transform the fortunes of our country," he said.
"I know the road ahead will be hard. But we have a plan. We are seeing it through. And believe me, the destination will be worth it. A Britain with a strong, positive and confident future."
