Monthly Archives: March 2011

As readers will know, when public spending is rising by £90 billion a year over five years, it is difficult to see why so many think the main adjustment to deal with our overspending is being made by the public sector. The truth is, that so far all the adjustment has been made by the [...]

                The Euro crisis has not been resolved. It is a rolling crisis, a series of accidents and market falls, often made worse by rows around the Council of Ministers table or by unfortunate and diverse spin from member states governments.               This week Portugal and the markets have returned to the issue of [...]

                 It now appears that the armies in Middle Eastern countries determine the future of governments. Brave popular uprisings have forced governments out in Tunisia and Egypt, where the armies declined to support the incumbents. In Libya it looks as if the rebels are now losing, as the dictator seems to have command of [...]

                  Mr Huhne has brought out a publication entitled  “Carbon Plan”. In it he says: “Climate change is one of the greatest threats to both UK and global security and prosperity…..without action to curb emissions there is a very high risk of global warming well beyond 2 degress relative to pre-industrial times.” This he [...]

                 As an MP I have always thought I should be loyal to my constituents, to my country and to my party – in that order. I have always taken seriously what I promised electors at the last Election and done my best to further those aims. When the Conservative party has won an [...]

                     Money has been easy for the UK public sector. The 0.5% interest rate is the one that applies only to government. Government has enjoyed using it to the full, borrowing collosal sums on the back of it.                   Money has been much tighter in the non bank  private sector. Effective interest rates for [...]

           I think the USA is right to say that any No fly zone would need UN backing, an invitation from the Libyan democratic movements, and agreement from the immediate neighbours of Libya as pre-conditions. These are all unlikely to come together. They are also right to warn that a No fly zone may [...]

              The National Audit Office has entered the debate about public sector staffing levels and costs. They tell us the civil service actually cut its numbers by 1% in the last ten years, but put the real costs of employing people up by 10%. It was especially generous with promotions, creating many more senior positions.  [...]

                       I have been involved in turning round companies that had too much borrowing, too little cash and too big a running deficit.  When a new team goes in to save them, everything in the first few months is designed to stem the outflow of cash. You first have to stop the losses or [...]