Monthly Archives: November 2007

The data loss at the Revenue has done one good thing. It has made the world wake up to a problem frequently highlighted on this blogsite the incompetence and waste of the UK public sector. Perhaps now we can have a proper discussion of how the public sector can be changed to give us a [...]

The European Central Bank has decided to keep interest rates up and to threaten higher rates still. Meanwhile, the Fed is moving to recession fighting, with many expecting lower interest rates despite recent rhetoric. The dollar drifts lower, the Euro rises. The higher Euro is making it very difficult for companies in many parts of [...]

An update – more policies and views announced: Clegg: Adopt the EU constitution Huhne: Adopt the EU constitution Clegg: Probably enter the Euro Huhne: Enter the Euro sometime Clegg: More regional government in England Huhne: More regional government in England Clegg: Build more Council houses Huhne: Build more Council houses Clegg: Don’t apologise for the [...]

When I was a Minister from time to time I needed to write to all MPs to inform them about something. Either I wrote a letter myself,or I adapted a civil service draft so it was relevant to MPs receiving it. Once the letters had been typed and printed, I then topped and tailed each [...]

Many people today have woken up to the news that this government is incompetent. For the first time many have had the scales taken from their eyes, as the dreadful truth sinks home that this time the government’s incompetence has left them personally vulnerable. Every family in the land now knows they must watch their [...]

The first thought I had when I heard late yesterday morning of the government’s loss of sensitive personal data was this should be the death blow to the government’s expensive, intrusive and insecure personal data computer scheme with ID cards. I encouraged the Opposition to make that the main point for the future coming out [...]