Pot, kettle, black
David Blackburn 5:36pm
George Boateng, Alan Milburn and Andrew Smith have written a letter to George Osborne, calling him to task over the contradictions in his policy.
'It is not clear to us whether these mixed messages are a deliberate attempt to obscure your plans or a symptom of a confused approach to policy but either way the public deserves better.'
Fair enough. Osborne's policy has become more concrete in recent weeks, but much remains still to do. Peversely, I think they've given too much detail, and have been found out because they haven't seen the nation's books.The reduction in the amount of cuts that are planned is a case in point.
But talk about hypocrisy: take a look at Labour's economic policy in the run-up to the budget. They are certainly clear on cuts: there aren't going to be any. But the rest is nebulous and confused. The government make a lot of noise about protecting employment; there are a deluge of initiatives, such as the Future Jobs Fund and the Young Person's Guarantee of work. The National Insurance hike negates these worthy causes. Yet Labour needs the cash, both because of the state of the public finances and also because the 50p rate is a political stunt that will deepen the nation's fiscal crisis.
The 50p rate is symptomatic of Labour's confusion on the tax regime. Liam Byrne has claimed that no further tax rises are necessary to redress the deficit. That of course does not rule out a rise on duties, but Byrne's statement was emphatic. Two days ago Peter Mandelson contradicted him: tax would rise if necessary. So I agree with Milburn et al. The electorate does deserve better. And I hope that Boateng, Milburn and Smith are composing a letter to Alistair Darling.
Previous
Noa Zrk
March 20th, 2010 6:04pm Report this commentThe Tories fail consistently to slay the Labour dragon.
Labour's massive debt, created by them increasing without control will destroy the very foundations of the country unless it is addressed.
This has to be Osborne's priority, how will he start to reduce the debt?
In doing so, through a series of prudent financial measures, the country can be saved,financially and socially, but spelling out this message requires courage and conviction.
Let's live within our means and restore national solvency within five years. Now that would be a policy.
Percy
March 20th, 2010 6:25pm Report this commentWhy would anyone in their right mind want to waste their time writing to Alan Milburn? I would include the other two as well but I'm not sure I know who they are.
EyeSee
March 20th, 2010 6:57pm Report this commentAs the sitting government, going in to an election, Labour should be able to crow about their achievements. These are; they passed an anti-smacking law and banned fox hunting. Both are crass and unenforceable, but are their only achievements. Unless you call destroying things and fraud achievements, in which case Labour are unbeatable.
Skeptismo
March 20th, 2010 7:05pm Report this commentOne is the former Chief Secretary to the Treasury - the other is a tough-tackling midfielder for Hull City.
Surely you mean Paul Boateng - or do they all look the same to you?
BigAl
March 20th, 2010 7:22pm Report this commentThey could spend their time on their own policies. Oh, I forgot that despite the full power and input of the government and civil service, Labour are unable to put together a policy as the markets are too unpredictable. Come on unknown Labour people, the electorate deserves more! Tell me about the successful debt mountain you have created and a record breaking deficit into the bargain. If these facts are out in the open and people vote Labour then we deserve the government we get. High tax, high interference, big government. The choice is all of ours.....Seemples!
Robert Williams
March 20th, 2010 7:26pm Report this commentIf the mixed messages coming from Byrne & Mandelson had come instead from Osborne & Clarke, the BBC would have had a week of headlines on the subject.
David Ossitt
March 20th, 2010 7:28pm Report this commentPercy
“Why would anyone in their right mind want to waste their time writing to Alan Milburn? I would include the other two as well but I'm not sure I know who they are.”
Percy; I think that David Blackburn has been on the hard stuff, it is either that or else he is playing this for laughs.
The photograph is of ‘Liam (I am always a liar) Byrne, Andrew Smith (the second ugliest member of parliament) is a labour member for Oxford East, he might well be going west after the election.
George Boateng is a middle of the road footballer.
But Paul Yaw Boateng is that black chap who was a labour member for Brent South, the UK's first black Cabinet Minister in May 2002 and he has served as the British High Commissioner to South Africa from March 2005 to April 2009, and it is said that his wife abused the servants.
David Ossitt
March 20th, 2010 7:34pm Report this commentSkeptismo
"Surely you mean Paul Boateng - or do they all look the same to you?”
Naughty, naughty, but I suppose they do.
stephen
March 20th, 2010 7:52pm Report this commentNulabour clearly see the Boy as the weakest link together with Cashcroft and will play these two for all they are worth. It's looks as if it could be very boring election! I hope Dave can spice things up a bit!
salieri
March 20th, 2010 7:53pm Report this commentYou can tell immediately that this is a line written by failed solicitor: sneering and specious.
Bocephus
March 20th, 2010 10:38pm Report this comment"They are certainly clear on cuts: there aren't going to be any."
Except they have already cut the university budget a contradiction that no one in the media seems interested in challenging them on.
Austin Barry
March 21st, 2010 1:38am Report this commentI was struck by a comment from Mark Steyn in this week's Orange County Register:
"California is bankrupt: The dependent class and the government class that issues the checks to the dependent class have squeezed out the poor boobs in the middle who have to pay for it all."
Yep, but unlike us they have sun and Angelina Jolie, we have rain and Margaret Beckett...
Dorothy Wilson
March 21st, 2010 10:39am Report this commentAccording to last week's Sunday Times the Treasury claimed that Byrne comment's about not seeing a need for tax rises only applied to next week's budget.
Noa Zrk: Is it that the Conservatives have failed to get the message across or is that people do not want to hear that message? You might like to read the article by Max Hastings in yesterday's Daily Mail. Presumably it is on line.
Victor Southern
March 21st, 2010 10:55am Report this commentThree Labour has-beens write a letter. They should be getting on with their lobbying.
TrevorsDen
March 21st, 2010 4:11pm Report this commentThe preposterous Liam Byrne (Lord Baldymort as his civil servants call him) has been treating his staff appallingly again. His driver has resigned, fed up with insinuations that he has run off with Baldy's wallet.
See the otherwise odious Mail.
David Ossitt
March 21st, 2010 7:45pm Report this commentTrevorsDen
“See the otherwise odious Mail”.
And yet; you continue to read it?
Noa Zrk
March 22nd, 2010 12:42am Report this commentDorothy Wilson
Noa Zrk: Is it that the Conservatives have failed to get the message across or is that people do not want to hear that message? You might like to read the article by Max Hastings in yesterday's Daily Mail. Presumably it is on line.
Dorothy
The problem is that the Conservative message is no different from Labours. Ring fenced spending, with no pledge to reduce the debt. The opposite of the conservatism that people want to hear.
I didn't find the Max Hastings article you refer to.
Dorothy Wilson
March 22nd, 2010 9:36am Report this commentNoa Zrk: If you go into Daily Mail Online and then click on Columunists you will find the article by Max Hastings. Among other things he argues that the Conservatives' poll ratings began to go down when they were honest about the state of the economy.
Noa Zrk
March 22nd, 2010 10:09pm Report this commentDorothy Wilson
Thank you for that.
He points out that the Tories have moved away from a sound fiscal policy because it was losing votes.
It's easy to see why Cameron and Osborne are the subject of so much distrust and contempt within these columns when, as this example shows, their polices are driven by such naked pursuit of power at the expense of the country's best interests.
Back to top