Monthly Archives: March 2009

I am all in favour of a Princess inheriting the Crown if she is the older child. This is a very good time to make this change, as it does not affect any current Prince or Princess likely to inherit. We have two generations of male heirs under either system I am also all in [...]

Today there are rumours of a Premier League Club in a debt crisis. That’s not surprising. Just like the banks, some clubs pay their employees far too much money. They mortgage the hope value of future revenues and profits, whilst crippling themselves with crazy costs. If someone wants a multi million pound wage packet they [...]

So it happened yesterday. It was the first market warning, the first inkling of trouble. Is it the first shockwave in a larger earthquake, or will the authorities take heed and shift to stronger ground? The failure to sell all their offering of long dated government stock – a 40 year IOU which we the [...]

Yesterday I met local FE College Heads. Top of their list of issues is the sudden cessation of money for their building plans, brought on by the incompetence of yet another government quango that “funds” them. Ministers cower behind their quango, denying responsibility and making sure the well paid CEO leaves, presumably with plenty of [...]

President Obama has triangulated with the masters of the universe from Wall Street. His Treasury Secretary this week proposed the world’s largest Hedge fund to be created with around one trillion dollars of largely public money. Yes, one trillion. Why not? It’s a large round number. You are nobody in public finance these days unless [...]

Yesterday the Governor said four very important things. 1. The change of inflation target from the RPI to the CPI was a government mistake, which led to a bigger credit bubble. 2. There are lags – we have not yet seen all the effects of much lower interest rates, and need to be patient. 3. [...]

The government yesterday published a document entitled “Rights and Responsibilities: developing our constitutional framework”. Only seven backbench Labour MPs stayed to hear about that. Those absent made a wise call, as the Statement was beyond parody. I give you a flavour from the supporting document: ” A declaration or charter of rights and responsibllities expressed [...]

The Prime Minister yesterday reported on the European meeting he had recently attended. Once again he used the occasion to lower his office, playing crude politics instead of answering the questions put. At a time of financial crisis the nation would appreciate engagement with serious points from all parts of the House and country rather [...]

Yesterday on BBC TV I was confronted by a statement that Alan Duncan (Shadow Leader of the House)had called for the Housing allowance to be abolished and replaced by a large pay rise for MPs. Did I agree? Of course I didn’t. I subsequently asked Alan Duncan if he had said that, and he assured [...]