Category Archives: save gordon.

Anyone watch Newsnight? Paxman interviewed Labour apologist Liam Byrne on the matter of the Conservatives £6bn savings vs Labour £15bn. Byrne just bluffed it and castigated the Tories. Probably as one would expect. But then, by way of “balance”, a businessman was in the studio to respond, It was suave Dragon’s Den star James Caan, and yes, he agreed with Labour and suggested that the Labour NIC hike next year was “no big deal”. Fair and balanced – both sides supporting Labour,

It seems to me that like Labour, the BBC does not understand why an increase in NIC is a tax on jobs.Perhaps Statism erodes the capacity for clear economic thinking but I listened in amazement to the BBC “Today” interview with Sir Stuart Rose, he of M&S fame. When Rose pointed out that the NIC increase with Brown and Clegg think so virtuous is a direct impediment to business growth, he was ignored on the substance of that argument and instead presented with the Labour attack line that IF government does not jack up NIC it will have to increase VAT. A false choice and talk of reducing Government efficiency was dismissed. Rose rightly pointed out that if VAT did rise, it would be a tax on consumption and therefore one has the choice to avoid it by limiting expenditure whereas an NIC increase hits all, this was met with silence. Then, most disgracefully, Humphrys suggested that Rose was saying these things because he would be offered a peerage to the Lords. Rose denied this but the impression was aimed at listeners, not Rose. More BBC attack dog stuff dressed up as news.

So, what do you make of the BBC’s coverage of the “Number 10 Bullying” story? Clearly Mandelson’s attempt to dismiss the entire issue of the Prime Minister’s character backfired but now the attention seems to be have switched to Christine Pratt and the National Bullying Helpline. Is this an attempt to re-frame the essential issue – namely the alleged mental instability of Gordon Brown.

The BBC reports that the Dear Leader has said technology such as crime maps and online school reports will cut bureaucracy, as Labour attempts to halve the Budget deficit.; Ahead of Wednesday’s pre-Budget report, the PM said “efficiency savings” would help to save £12bn over four years – £3bn more than planned in the Budget. Great news. I suppose one might pause to wonder how £12bn worth of theoretical “efficiency savings” over four years is going to resolve public sector net debt of £804bn but obviously the BBC does not concern itself with such economic trivia. No, Gordon is in control and offering us clear red water between his kindly “efficiency savings” and the wicked Tories cuts. Vote Labour, you know it makes (non) sense.

The BBC reports that the UK economy shrunk less than thought! (Less than who thought?) Yes, economic output shrunk by only 0.3% in Q3, not the 0.4% originally suggested. Ring out the bells. Maybe the BBC could provide us with some insight into why it is that ONLY the UK of ALL the major global economies remains firmly in recession, given that our Prime Minister is on record stating the UK was better placed than most to weather the recession. Turns out that we were less well placed to withstand the storm than any other major economy. Who shall we blame?

Did anyone else catch the Cameron interview on the Today show this morning? John Humphrys seem determined to suggest that there was some form of collusion between David Cameron and Sir Christopher Kelly when it came to highlighting the total failure of Brown to deal with certain aspects of the Kelly report. What did Dave know and when did he know it? – was the line being pursued by the BBC this morning. Nice way of deflecting the issue. John!

Anyone else Gordon Brown being interviewed by Evan Davies on “Today” this morning? What an easy ride he got! Not only did he get away with suggesting that the UK – under his wise guidance – had set the new strategy for the rest of the world on Afghanistan but that the UK -under his all seeing gaze – had also set the standards for the rest of the world on dealing with the recession. Davies did not challenge these wild claims and Gordon got to waffle his way through the 20 minute section. I wonder would Cameron get such an easy ride?

Had to laugh at Hugh Pym’s simpering cheer leading (7.17am)for Gordon Brown’s latest taxation wheeze. It is perfectly obvious that Brown’s big idea went down like a lead balloon with the likes of the USA and Canada (though of course the French like it!) but Pym was there to suggest that it is still on the political radar and who knows, even the US, might come back and show some love for it.