The unravelling continues apace
Peter Hoskin 11:21am
Has Brown got away with his horror Budget? Reading the Populus poll in this morning's Times, you might be tempted to say he has. Sure, there's some bad news in there for the government: trust in Dave 'n' George's ability to manage the economy has hit an all-time high, and only 12 percent of respondents think that the measures outlined in the PBR will be sufficient to deal with our country's fiscal woes. But Labour types will also seize on those numbers which show quite high levels of support for the individual proposals annouced on Wednesday. 78 percent back the bonus tax. 61 percent back the capping of public sector pay increases. And – surprisingly, to my mind – 51 percent back the national insurance increase. That, and 59 percent believe significant cuts "should not be made until the economic recovery is much stronger".
But then you turn to Patrick Wintour's behind-the-scenes account of the PBR in today's Guardian, and, suddenly, it's all looking bad again for our PM. It seems various Cabinet sources are briefing that Brown is "still in denial about the scale of the cuts required," and that he blocked Alistair Darling's plan to raise VAT above 17.5 percent in favour of the national insurance hike. Now, you can argue about which of the two measures would be more regressive – see Guido here on the VAT hike, although the Guardian claims that Darling "would have protected the poor" – or about which will will raise more money for the Exchequer. But the message that articles like this send out remains, rightly or wrongly, the same: that even the government doesn't believe in the PBR. And, two days after it was delivered, that's a very damaging message indeed.
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Billy Blofeld
December 11th, 2009 11:49am Report this commentIt mad me laugh to see the bingo community slagging off the budget too........ here:
"It’s pretty shady practice really when you think about it"
Bob Dixon
December 11th, 2009 11:56am Report this commentThis fentiger wants blood after reading Nelson's comment that Brown does not feel responsible for our economic woes.
Brown is personally liable for the governments debts.He is responsable for putting government monies into the Scottish banks.
Where does he get the authority to carry out these acts.
He did not seek to confirm his position as PM with the electrate.He did not seek commons votes for his actions.
So when do we get the satisfaction of seeing him dragged through the courts?
Chuck Unsworth
December 11th, 2009 11:59am Report this commentJust wait until the January pay packets get opened - assuming that there are any.
But what's truly terrifying is the immediate response of the money markets and the drastic decline in our international status. For all the smoke and mirrors here there are many outside the UK who see straight through to the realities. We are in deep trouble and the only way we can re-establish credibility is by making savage cuts to government spending.
Never mind all the garbage about ring-fencing. Ring-fencing in this case is merely briefly postponing execution, not commuting the sentence.
Moraymint
December 11th, 2009 12:06pm Report this commentSurely, the story of Gordon Brown's life is "in denial". He rode into power on the back of a confidence trickster and has been wreaking havoc ever since.
Brown reminds me of one those strange insects, introduced by David Attenborough, which burrows inside another living creature and eats the host creature from the inside out, until it's dead.
We're almost dead now.
Hawkeye
December 11th, 2009 12:15pm Report this comment"the Guardian claims that Darling 'would have protected the poor' "
What? Has he told people to "Vote Tory"?
Chris lancashire
December 11th, 2009 12:36pm Report this commentThere's a certain rough justice about the fact that, whilst the UK electorate are virtually powerless to influence the mad Scots halfwit, the international banking community will stop him dead in his tracks through the bond market.
davefromluton
December 11th, 2009 12:36pm Report this commentThe problem with NI is that those with pensions or living on investment income don't pay it.
There are many thousands like me on government/local government (index-linked) pensions blissfully watching you others pay for us.
NI and income tax should be merged in my opinion
Frank P
December 11th, 2009 12:57pm Report this comment"Will Britain Go Bust?" asks the caption on the front page of this week's magazine.
It is bust, but it doesn't matter because the government owns the currency printing presses.
UK plc will therefore trade on, illegally and disgracefully, at least until the alien bankrollers pull the plug on us. By then our Chairman and his Board will have safely tucked away their ill-gotten gains in safer havens and be comfortably ensconced in sinecures east (or even west) of hereabouts.
strapworld
December 11th, 2009 1:03pm Report this commentMay I refer you to Mike Smithson on Politicalbetting, in answer to your question "Has Brown got away with his horror budget"
I copy two paragraphs from Mike's excellent article:-
Like today’s survey the 2008 poll was broadly supportive yet within only a few days Labour started its dramatic polling decline leading to the awful summer of 2008. That collapse was sparked off by the budget’s failure to deal with the losers from the abolition of the 10 pence tax rate.
So what turned out to be the most disastrous budget in political terms during Labour’s twelve years of power was given the thumbs-up in the Times mini-poll immediately afterwards. Something’s wrong somewhere.
I am sure you, of all people Mr Hoskin, would have been aware of the criticism of these 'immediate' polls.
Pete Hoskin
December 11th, 2009 1:21pm Report this commentstrapworld: and I thought it was pretty clear from the rest of the post that my answer to that question is 'no'.
I said reading the poll might make one tempted to say 'yes' - but I didn't say that was the right answer.
You're right: there are problems with snap polls, but didn't think it was necessary to go into them here. After all, you can end up at the same place by going different routes...
strapworld
December 11th, 2009 1:53pm Report this commentAnd a merry christmas to you too Mr Hoskin.
Just trying to help!
Cjamesk
December 11th, 2009 2:39pm Report this commentAnyone else going to hedge against Hyperinflation?
This silly spending can`t continue, I think much like "immigration" was used to "rub the rights nose in multiculturalism" Gordon and Darling are pursuing a course of a "possible" DC government accepting the Euro, as the PBR much like the last 12yrs has put Party before Country.
Pete Hoskin
December 11th, 2009 3:43pm Report this commentstrapworld: and I was just trying to say that I know about the criticism of "immediate" polls. Apologies if it came across a bit bluntly - I honestly didn't mean it to be.
And Merry Christmas to you to!
strapworld
December 11th, 2009 4:28pm Report this commentMr Hoskin, thank you and a Happy New Year.
Boudicca
December 11th, 2009 8:06pm Report this commentI know this is wrong, but I'm beginning to wish the Bond markets decided to send a clear signal for once (instead of all the heavy hints) and downgraded our credit rating this side of the election. I would love to see Brown/Darling try to squirm out of THAT one.
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