Talking Brown

Poor Liz. After ten years of being used to regurgitating Blairite language in the Queen’s Speech, she now has the Brownite argot to contend with. “My government will meet the rising aspirations of the British people” she says, as if reading the subtitle of last month’s pre-Budget. All the old Brown favourites are there: all “children to have the best possible start in life” (from his conference speech), to “reduce regulatory burdens on business” (from a speech last December), to “respond to the challenges of globalisation” (from his 2005 Mansion House speech). At least there were no Bob Shrum catchphrases this time.

As for giving taxpayers’ money to parties – words fail me. I’m all for all of them collapsing if they can’t find ideas people consider are worth supporting. I seem to remember the MG Rover being denied a state bailout, thanks to Brussels regulations. Where is the European Union when you need it?