Every time I read, and I keep reading it everywhere, that George Osborne might not be a whizz at economics but he's a very clever politician, I weep a little more. Life in Britain is rapidly emulating one of those sci-fi series in which people find themselves living in an alternative universe. For example, any minute now the 'Bruvvers and Sisters' are due to kick off in a huge national 'pub fight' whose main message, implied if not actually printed on a placard, will take us back 30 years: "STOP THE CUTS!" What cuts? If only there were some cuts, even a few titchy, little ones would do, but there aren't any. As John Redwood points out using Office of Budget Responsibility(OBR) figures:
Total borrowing will be £165.5 billion in 2010-11, and £167.4 billion in 2011-12. £261.6 billion of this is additional borrowing for extra spending. (My emphasis)
Needless to say, the almost entirely useless media fail to ram this point into the public consciousness by endlessly repeating it in the way they endlessly repeat equally useless pictures of jet fighter-bombers wasting their time, and our money, over Libya. These figures should writ large on every headline in every newspaper - but don't hold your breath:
2011-12 spending increase of £10.6 billion
2012-13 spending increase of £9.2 billion
2013-14 spending increase of £8.1 billion
2014-15 spending increase of £6.1 billion
I can only repeat, borrowing is increasing not decreasing, as Redwood and the OBS make clear:
Total borrowing will be £165.5 billion in 2010-11, and £167.4 billion in 2011-12. £261.6 billion of this is additional borrowing for extra spending. (My emphasis)
And so, as barmy Osborne prances around in cloud cuckoo land throwing his Monopoly money up in the air and whistling "Happy days are here again", and 'Field Marshal' Cameron leans over his war-board moving squadrons (well, only a couple of squadrons, actually 'cos that's all he's got) of bombers from here to there so that they can, er, well, you know, bomb things - and, no, I dunno either), I gradually come to realise what it is like when the loonies really do take over the asylum.
Cameron may be less bad than Blair.
Osborne may well be better than Alistair Darling.
We have no Brown, and Clegg is obviously a vast improvement over Prescott.
Unfortunately, such modest change isn't nearly enough.
Posted by: dearieme | Thursday, 24 March 2011 at 17:04
Taking your points in order, DM:
1: Only because his wars (so far) are smaller
2: I'm glad you inserted the word "may"
3: At least Prescott provided some laughs!
Posted by: David Duff | Thursday, 24 March 2011 at 17:30