I’m a smoker…budgets are always depresseing times for me…nice to see I will be joined in my misery this year by spirit drinkers….too optimistic on the growth forecasts…retreats on child poverty and green issues….not nearly enough done about the scandal of energy bills….the fact is that increaseing the allowence is about as effective as sticking a pin in a planet sized hole if energy companies are given licence to get away with huge price increases…
I know it’s unwise to admit this, but I find myself agreeing with some of the Lib Dem analysis on the budget, in addition to Cameron’s predictable but poignant remarks yesterday.
Read Nick Robinson’s BBC blog. This budget is full of Blairite ideas taken up by the Tories and then pinched back by the Brownians. There could scarcely be a better demonstration that New Labour and the Tories are becoming indistinguishable from one another, and both lack substantive ideas on how to tackle the real problems that are growing apace.
I avidly watched the political coverage yesterday and everything else I could get my hands on (taking the day off to consume it all) and it struck me that Cameron is failing to hit all the right notes with his lines and make the best use of the occasions as political theatre.
Either Cameron is becoming increasingly regular at turning in underwhelming performances or he is losing heart at everyone else’s inability to roll-over before him.
This could be because his line-writers have become formulaic, or that they don’t have his voice, or it could be a simple sleep-pattern problem (familial, but unprofessional for a major set-piece event, especially when nannying services, hotels and probably everthing down to masseurs are available to him and would be laid on in order to maximise his potency at the dispatch box) but the inauthenticity in his delivery made me start to wonder who is pulling his strings and how long the real power in the party will tolerate him before the axe swings again.
Of course, I’m probably less objective than I pretend and could be mistaken – he could be the bomb live, but I get the blatant impression he is being dishonestly over-earnest in his obvious and eager impatience – who is he looking at over his shoulder?
Rif Winfield Whatever the multiple roles which the Navy must undertake (and here I fully agree with you, Edward), what is essential is the quantity of vessels. However effec...
Nick Baird @Jana - there is a huge difference between the relatively confined space of the Black Sea (and the Azov Sea in particular) and the North Atlantic where the area...
Steve Trevethan Might the "Future of War "and its present state also be affected by decisions relating to deciding who are the actual enemies?
Might the Russia-Ukrains war b...
Edward marsh Thanks for the comment Jana. I’m not sure it’s “wrong” per say as the navy has a wide reach of maritime security responsibilities, many I outlined, the ...
James Hargrave A timely piece given current events. Chronic underinvestment in our energy resilience (especially gas) has left us very exposed, and assuming that isn't solved ...
6 Comments
Darling’s budget – a cheap shirt, a small bit of foam and a big bloke bumping into you. See my blog for details…
I’m a smoker…budgets are always depresseing times for me…nice to see I will be joined in my misery this year by spirit drinkers….too optimistic on the growth forecasts…retreats on child poverty and green issues….not nearly enough done about the scandal of energy bills….the fact is that increaseing the allowence is about as effective as sticking a pin in a planet sized hole if energy companies are given licence to get away with huge price increases…
I know it’s unwise to admit this, but I find myself agreeing with some of the Lib Dem analysis on the budget, in addition to Cameron’s predictable but poignant remarks yesterday.
http://lettersfromatory.wordpress.com
Read Nick Robinson’s BBC blog. This budget is full of Blairite ideas taken up by the Tories and then pinched back by the Brownians. There could scarcely be a better demonstration that New Labour and the Tories are becoming indistinguishable from one another, and both lack substantive ideas on how to tackle the real problems that are growing apace.
I avidly watched the political coverage yesterday and everything else I could get my hands on (taking the day off to consume it all) and it struck me that Cameron is failing to hit all the right notes with his lines and make the best use of the occasions as political theatre.
Either Cameron is becoming increasingly regular at turning in underwhelming performances or he is losing heart at everyone else’s inability to roll-over before him.
This could be because his line-writers have become formulaic, or that they don’t have his voice, or it could be a simple sleep-pattern problem (familial, but unprofessional for a major set-piece event, especially when nannying services, hotels and probably everthing down to masseurs are available to him and would be laid on in order to maximise his potency at the dispatch box) but the inauthenticity in his delivery made me start to wonder who is pulling his strings and how long the real power in the party will tolerate him before the axe swings again.
Of course, I’m probably less objective than I pretend and could be mistaken – he could be the bomb live, but I get the blatant impression he is being dishonestly over-earnest in his obvious and eager impatience – who is he looking at over his shoulder?
Why is my comment still moderated? I assume it’s the reference to “Birkenstocks” that you all find offensive…