Comments on: Supplementary billions – have another 36?

By: mike stallard

mike stallard — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:22:30 +0000

We all know that this government works in a language that nobody who is not a professional Labour supporter can begin to understand. So did the Russian Communists too. Remember Newspeak?
It is an appallingly dangerous thing to do.
If you stop all pertinent criticism, you are bound to make serious mistakes, especially if you are increasingly removed from reality.
I have been trying desperately to find “John Redwood’s Blog: Labour division.”
There simply isn’t one. (Unless you count the BBC).
The most dreadful news is that Labour List which looked promising has now (go there and see) turned into a feminist tract, just at the time when the economy is being deliberately sacrificed to win the election next year.
The Labour party have not only stopped having to think in parliament, they now have started to stop thinking on the internet.
Unless, of course, you count John Prescott who has a LOT to say.

By: Vanessa

Vanessa — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:01:03 +0000

I am getting to the stage where I don’t care who gets in at the next election, it could be the “Raving Loony Party” so long as there is a modicum of competence. I am sick of being governed by children who have never run or done anything in their simple lives. With this horrendous financial fiasco please get somebody who knows what he is doing to help get us out of this mess and growing again.

By: John Finningham

John Finningham — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:46:24 +0000

As I have stated in the Gaurdian and Independent blogs government spending is a complete sham and I defy any politician to prove me wrong (none have dared comment).
I work in the rail industry and we are funded by the tax payer. Just one example is the measuring tool I use in my job which cost a staggering £137. This same tool and from the same maker I found online for £7.99 and another few £ for P+P.
All governments waste tax payers money and will continue to do so unless we have full accountability into public money. yet most MP’s do not want that as it means an end to the generous perks in the expenses fiasco. Probably an end to the lucrative pensions that we pay for while ours are unprotected and worthless.
What do you say John; any response to this.

Reply: I agree far too much is wasted. The Conservatives have promised much greater disclosure, fewer MPs and reductions to future MP pension arrangements.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 19:12:35 +0000

Sustainable Growth is an oxymoron.
I believe my analysis is right, that they intend to redefine economics as a measure of happiness rather than wealth, in order to hide the damage sustainable development will do to traditional economic measures. I cant see that they have another way out of it, except to admit that being green will damage the economy and the message at the moment is the exact opposite.

By: brian kelly

brian kelly — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 14:52:47 +0000

When is all this going to stop? It is the politics and economics of the madhouse. There is a most strange feeling and atmosphere about – to me, a bit surreal, as though we are detached from reality – democracy totally departed, a feeling of helplessness and hopelessness, waiting for something to happen It’s a bit like a ‘phony war’, the enemy massing on the borders while we try to carry on as normal but knowing that there will be an almighty axe come crashing down at any time.

By: chris southern

chris southern — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 13:57:13 +0000

Surely what they are pulling nowadays must be illegal, or at least frowned upon by parliment, if so, surely there must be some legal retribution.
this goverment are nothing more than a prince john fanclub, do we need the archbishops to take them all to task this time!

By: rob terrance

rob terrance — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 11:40:32 +0000

Utterly sickening. More disingenuous lies and wastage from the most criminally incompetent government in history.

By: alan jutson

alan jutson — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:20:08 +0000

Interesting that none of this debate, if that is what you can call it, has been reported in the Press given the vast sums of money involved.

I have noticed in the Telegraph this morning though that RBS has a staff pension shortfall due to its collapsing share price.
The proposed reported solution, to invest £807 million of the taxpayer bail out money into it, to make it a little better.

Also reported RBS auditors fees up from £31.4 million to £58.8 million, seems that not spotting a problem entitles you to an 80% increase in your fees.

Meanwhile in the real world, the taxpayer suffers the effects of the wider market on their Pension funds, and a future increase in their Tax liability to pay for all of this liability.

John you must be getting very frustrated, and I guess by now a little angry with the current situation, where democracy and accountability just seems to be failing.
Is there nothing that all of the opposition Parties can do to stop this nonesense of non discussion.

By: Ian Jones

Ian Jones — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:13:22 +0000

Is the 36bn on top of what has already been put into the banks or is this just extra spending on the extra spending?

Lets hope Cameron restores the power of parliament and outlaws some of the statutory instruments tacked onto laws which mean changes no longer need laws. Although having been out of the country for 2 years I am not exactly sure what is now legal as it seems we are going towards the European view that everything is illegal unless the Govt says it isnt!!!

Reply: the documents didn’t say the Minister didn’t know if some of the £36 bn is also the save the banks money.