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Monday 9 November 2009

Brown must admit his errors

Brown and his critics must admit their errors

The PM should learn from his mistakes

But along with these achievements came a crumbling of the nation’s social structure. Brown’s refusal to fund the construction of new prisons contributed to an increase in crime that has made many of Britain’s streets unsafe. Well-intentioned programmes to assist toddlers have been proven to be expensive failures. The pension system is in disarray. Educational standards are dismal and falling. Immigration policy remains incoherent. Millions have withdrawn from the active economy to cash in on the benefits heaped on malingerers, unto the third generation thereof, while resources available to the deserving poor are drained away. The tax system is so burdensome and complex that it brings into question Britain’s ability to compete in an increasingly globalised world. And the nation’s brave soldiers live in squalor at home and die in large numbers overseas because their vehicles are inadequate, their communications systems obsolete and their helicopters too few to support them on the ground. All this when Brown had uncontested control of economic policy and the allocation of the nation’s resources.

Back to intelligence and vision, and the Prime Minister’s ample supply of both. Those who wish Brown well are hoping that he can overcome a major failing: the refusal to admit error, most recently made blindingly apparent by his decision to sacrifice credibility merely to show how stubborn he can be in sticking to his no-referendum-no-matter-what-I-promised position. If he is to realise his vision of a Britain that will be a better place because he decided to make politics his life, he must end those programmes that have demonstrably failed in their noble goals. Leave his claque of supporters behind for a weekend, study the facts — the stuff on which he ordinarily thrives — and change course where needed. It is no use pretending to be a change agent while refusing to toss overboard the failed programmes of his past decade in de facto charge of the country.

More articles from: Irwin Stelzer | this section

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