I’ve just been on the sharp end of HMRCs rather dodgy tax computers. I read stories about them spitting out incorrect tax codes and causing all sorts of mayhem, but I never thought it would happen to me. Continue reading “An early Christmas present from HMRC’s dodgy computers suggests trouble ahead?”
Month: December 2012
’You Can’t Borrow Your Way Out of a Debt Crisis’. Er, actually you can Mr Osborne. It depends….
One of George Osborne’s favourite mantra’s is the above one. Unfortunately it’s based on a rather school-boy understanding of economics.
Of course everyone is familiar with the personal debt spiral. Adam and Eve enjoy the good life. They spend a bit more than they earn and make up the difference with credit card debt. Once they’ve maxed out their credit cards they start taking out pay-day loans at exorbitant interest. Before you know it their mole-hill of debt has turned into a mountain and they have no way out except bankruptcy and/or years of austerity. Continue reading “’You Can’t Borrow Your Way Out of a Debt Crisis’. Er, actually you can Mr Osborne. It depends….”
After Austerity: What Happens After You’ve Slain the Deficit Dragon, George?
The final point I want to make is about the “dog that didn’t bark” in Mr Osborne’s Autumn Statement. What could, and should Britain look like After Austerity? Continue reading “After Austerity: What Happens After You’ve Slain the Deficit Dragon, George?”
The Autumn Statement Blame Game: Austerity Agitprop and the Double (Triple) Dip (#SR2013)
The second major thing wrong with today’s Autumn Statement was the usual political spin embedded in Mr Osborne’s “it weren’t me guv” plea.
According to the Chancellor, supposedly aided and abetted by the OBR, the poorer than expected economic results, and knock-on poorer than expected public finances, is all down to those rotten Continentals over in the Eurozone (EZ). Continue reading “The Autumn Statement Blame Game: Austerity Agitprop and the Double (Triple) Dip (#SR2013)”
Geeky Gripes About the Autumn Statement. (#SR2013)
George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement today to general critical declaim.
Let me begin with a rather geeky gripe about the Autumn Statement. It was a mini-Budget, indeed a mini-Spending Review, rather than an Autumn Statement. In this George Osborne has gone one up on his predecessor, Alistair Darling, who has famously said he delivered 6 Budgets in his 3 years as Chancellor (in his book ‘Back from the Brink’). Continue reading “Geeky Gripes About the Autumn Statement. (#SR2013)”
STATECRAFT - improving government 