“I’m always honest with the British public” said Gordon Brown at his monthly press conference. Then, this: “There can be no argument about where we’ve been over the last few years on debt. Debt was reduced from 44% of national income to 37% at the latest count. And that is a fact.” No, Prime Minister, that is a lie. The latest count was in September, when the ONS said net national debt is 43.4% of GDP.
“Whatever else we want to argue about, let us be clear that we start from a low base in public debt. The question is what you do as a result of that… I just hope that the argument about the economy and where we’re heading can get to a sensible level here.” A sensible debate is one where the Prime Minister does not lie about UK national debt. He didn’t want to accept the ONS ruling that Northern Rock should sit on the national debt, so he just ignores this. As he knows, the political and foreign journalists in that room would not have a copy of the latest ONS press release to hand. Those figures are written up by the business desk, and in the Balkanised world of British journalism the business pages are a different planet. Brown ruthlessly exploits this gulf. With the Opposition unable to make the attack properly, and the broadcast/home news editors bored by anything with “per cent” after it, Brown can get away with financial murder. And how.
As I revealed in Coffee House, Brown ordered up a new fake debt measurement (code HF6W) to cook up his 37% figure by excluding Northern Rock. It seems to be what he is referring to – but that is not the UK national debt figure. But all Brown needs to do is persuade the media to use his fake figure, and his mission to mislead the nation over debt will be accomplished.
Two other points from the press conference:
— When will people see tax cuts, asked Bob Roberts from the Daily Mirror. “There’s £120 tax cut this year going to all basic rate taxpayers” he says. Em, wasn’t this to compensate for the 10p tax rise? It’s dressed up as a tax cut now. Astonishing how Brown can claim to be honest with the public, then proceed to give such a misleading answer. I do wonder if he’s even aware of it.
— Dressing up foregone taxes as tax cuts Brown also said that “people have already seen” tax cuts in the decision to raise stamp duty and freezing of fuel duty. The decision not to raise taxes does not equal cutting taxes. Brown hopes journalists will not make this distinction.
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