Life on Mars

The BBC series “Life on Mars” was set in the 1970’s and it seems we are all going back to the 70’s with the news that the government has decided to nationalise the Northern Rock bank. In this report the BBC dutifully reports the goverment line that there was no other option but for the State to step in and take over the running of this institution. It also reports the warm welcomethis step has been given by the uberleftist Lib-Dem’s Vince Cable and the Chairman of the Commons Treasury Select Committee Labour’s John McFall. Everyone seems happy at this catastrophic waste of billions of tax-payers money – apart from George Osbourne and Richard Branson. Naturally the share-holders get shafted but who cares about that when there all those Northern Rock jobs in Labour constituencies to preserve? Could you imagine if this was a bank called “Southern Rock” with thousands of jobs in the home counties that there would be the same enthusiasm from NuLabour? I look forward to the BBC providing a platform for those many capable economic analysts who can take apart this Brown/Darling shambles.