Wednesday 19 May 2010

He actually said it!

There's an article in the FT about Labour's last minute scorched-earth spending splurge, all good stuff, although the Lib-Cons have barely scratched the surface*.

The highlight is this from The Badger: Former ministers have dismissed the exercise as a political show-trial to soften up public opinion for spending cuts. Alistair Darling, former chancellor, said blaming an outgoing administration was the "oldest trick in the book".

Sheesh.

They wrote the book. A quick Google search of years+of+Tory"under investment" gives me 33,500 hits, the latest were in the last few days.

* A few quick wins, lads - shut down DTI, DFID, DECC and DCMS, and replace the entire welfare system with a Citizen's Income, that'd save about £50 billion a year. Sure, DTI budget includes some spending on higher education, which is important for the economy in general and employers in particular - but they end up paying twice. They pay for cost of higher education through taxation and the value of the education through higher salaries.

On a personal note, I paid for my own degree courses (OK, they were subsidised, but it's the principle that matters) without getting a penny of grant and for my own professional qualifications (with private providers). Stupendously good value they were too. I can imagine most lorry drivers or taxi drivers would say the same thing, or indeed anybody who accepted below-market wages while they were doing an apprenticeship or similar.

6 comments:

Dick Puddlecote said...

Wrote it, indeed. They're still blaming Thatcher for their current woes FFS!

How about that for blaming the outgoing administration, err, four removed!

John B said...

The fact that he wrote the book should make him particularly adept at spotting people quoting from it, shouldn't it?

C'mon, if you think Osborne's OMG LABOUR SPLURGE WOES! leaks (both in the Times and the FT, I think) are anything more than a blatant play from the Bumper Book Of Lowering Expectations By Blaming Your Predecessor, I've got a bridge to sell you.

Mark Wadsworth said...

DP, yup, four removed.

JB, we both know that Labour were wasting money on an industrial scale. They made the 1990s Tories look like choirboys. The boot's now on the other foot.

And you must admit, getting senior civil servants to say that their formal protests had been overruled was an excellent flourish by Laws & Osborne, and will be added to the BBOLEBBYP, no doubt.

Chuckles said...

'Stupendously good value they were too'

Opinions are divided on this.

It seems to create a need to pontificate at great length on jaw-achingly boring and trivial matters...

neil craig said...

I wouldn't be surprised if the DTI goes. This was actually the LudDims radical & sensible policy in the election manifesto before last. They may have another one again some day.

Mark Wadsworth said...

C, explain?

JH, and literally bankrupt country!

NC, it was on the telly when iDave and Uncle Vince rocked up at DTI. Uncle Vince grinned and said "You may remember that it was Lib Dem policy to shut down the DTI, but I've changed my mind...", [cue rapturous applause from the rent seekers].