Monthly Archives: July 2010

Today’s Sunday Telegraph story of Health Authorities planning cuts to operations and services for patients makes grim reading. The story should pose this question – Why are the managers even thinking of cutting important services when they have been told spending will rise in real terms? It’s very old politics for public service managers to [...]

There is one simple answer to US Senators wanting UK and Scottish Ministers to attend Senate hearings to answer for their conduct: “Never”. UK Ministers are answerable to the UK Parliament. If the US needs clarification of UK policy or actions it should seek it through diplomatic channels. I did not agree with the Scottish [...]

I hear that my blog on Councillors finding freedom difficult is attracting interest around the country. I am being asked to provide some more thoughts on how a good Council could become more efficient and successful, now it can cast off the government controls and bureaucracy. I would suggest Councillors begin at the top of [...]

I once watched a Channel 4 boss goes under cover programme about a private sector company. It was interesting, exposing problems in the company and leading to new thinking by the boss on how he should do his job. I therefore tuned in with anticipation last night to see them do the same thing in [...]

Some bloggers complain that I want to encourage more debt, to reinflate the bubble. They add that I do not take seriously the need for lower house prices, and want to carry on with the old model of inflationary booms based on rising house prices. These are serious points, but based on a misunderstanding of [...]

Most of the economic and spending debates at Westminster are about sums of money that will not make much difference to a £1.5 trillion economy. I wrote during the election that arguing about £6 billion more or less was debating a rounding error in the National Accounts. The real money was being moved by the [...]

In October 2007 the borrowing binge peaked. That month lending to small and medium sized UK companies grew by a heady 33.5%. UK business took out an additional £17.4 billion of loans in just one month. In July of that year banks’ syndicated gross loans less maturities peaked at £23.9 billion in the month. Labour’s [...]

You might have thought when the government needs to borrow £150 billion National Savings would be after your money. Yet if you go onto their site this morning it tells you they are not currently selling either Index linked or fixed rate 2 or 5 year bonds on their usual tax free basis. It can’t [...]

As someone who has in the past been an enthusiastic Atlanticist, valuing our relationship with the USA, I don’t think Mr Cameron should expect or even seek a “special” relationship with Mr Obama. I want us to maintain our close ties with the USA. but think they are stronger at the moment people to people, [...]