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This politicians and blogs thing

Monday, 24th November 2008

Something I've not seen before, a development in political blogging (that is the use by a politician of a blog, not the sort of thing I do which is the use of a blog to excoriate politics and politicians):

John Redwood, the former Cabinet minister and Chairman of the Economic Competitiveness Policy Group set up by Mr Cameron, added that the idea of VAT cuts stimulating the economy showed that Labour had "lost the plot."

He said: "Just about the worst tax cut they could design is a VAT cut. It's costly on the revenue, but will have little impact on the problem. People do not feel well off. Offering them 2.5 per cent off items at a time when the shop and showroom prices are already 10-20 per cent down is not going to do much.

"It's not fair on the poor. Essentials that make up most of the budgets of the lower paid are already VAT free. The biggest gains will be for those who buy expensive wines, flashy cars and use lots of petrol."

That's the Telegraph's report of what Redwood said of course, published this morning.

Here's what Redwood said on his blog yesterday:

Just about the worst tax cut they could design is a VAT cut. It’s costly on the revenue, but will have little impact on the problem. People do not feel well off. Offering them 2.5% off dearer items at a time when the shop and showroom prices are already 10-20% down is not going to do much.

It’s not fair on the poor. Essentials that make up most of the budgets of the lower paid are already VAT free. The biggest gains will be for those who buy expensive wines, flashy cars and use lots of petrol. If markets do not like the borrowing figures we will lose more from the higher long term rates of interest the markets will demand of the government.

It is of course possible that Redwood put out a press release detailing his views but I think it unlikely. I think the reporter has gone and read the blog and taken that as the considered view.

No, this doesn't mean that I think said reporter is wrong for lifting quotes from a blog. Quite the opposite, I think it's an excellent use of a blog by a politician. Buy writing regularly, on matters of substance, John Redwood has turned his blog into the equivalent of a press office(r). Hugely cheaper than a live bod of course and also something that can be done at the time of day he prefers rather than hastily over the phone as and when a reporter calls.

Rather well done I think actually.