A DRAGONS’ Den-style competition launched by George Osborne to find ways to cut public service “waste” has been bombarded this weekend with a single suggestion — stop privatising them.

The Tory Chancellor, who wants to sell off £32 billion of public assets this year among many cuts to services, called on public-sector workers to submit ideas for cuts in their own services.

After pitching their ideas online the winning candidates will be grilled by Treasury boffins.

The process is inspired by the BBC series Dragons’ Den, which sees wannabe businesspeople beg five super-wealthy tycoons for financial support.

The twist is that this time the winners will lose funding for their public service.

But the PR stunt has been hijacked by campaign group We Own It, who said it was Mr Osborne’s plans to privatise £30bn worth of state assets that should be put before the Dragons’ Den.

“The problem for the Chancellor is that if he did put his ideas up for scrutiny the public would say: ‘We’re out’,” said director Cat Hobbs.

“If Osborne is serious about saving public money long-term then he should think again about his plans for the biggest asset sell-off ever.”

We Own It is co-ordinating a mass response to the government consultation, telling them to save cash by ending outsourcing in the NHS and other public services.

Joseph Hawley was among people who responded this weekend.

He wrote: “Instead of selling off RBS at a £14bn loss to the taxpayer, turn it into a network of local, publicly owned banks — this could save money for local councils and boost the economy.”

• The consultation can be found at www.surveymonkey.com/r/HVW38NC