PoliticsHome reports that Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Liam Byrne has called the Government's benefit cap policy "chaotic". Byrne also reported added:
"I’m afraid the picture that we’ve got today is of a pretty chaotic and pretty careless Government that is potentially putting 40,000 families out of a home and actually putting up the bill to taxpayers."
Liam Byrne, readers will recall, was the out-going Chief Secretary to the Treasury who famously left a note for his successor which read:
"Dear Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards - and good luck! Liam."
In a BBC report Byrne admitted that it made the job of his party, as the Official Opposition in the new parliament, in a contradictory position when attempting to criticise policies of the Coalition. In that same report he also admitted that there was a "dark humour" between politicians.
It is well known by those who visit this blog that I am no admirer of Cameron, Clegg and the Coalition and whilst in no manner excusing their policies, I find it incredible that someone who was himself a member of a government which has been demonstrated to be pretty chaotic and pretty careless with the nation's finances; one which left this nation in dire financial straits; and one which has imposed on the taxpayer an ever increasing bill; has the temerity to criticise attempts (misguided or otherwise) to rectify the situation. I find it likewise incredible that politicians can indulge in "dark humour" amongst themselves about a nation whos well-being they had been entrusted.
It never ceases to amaze me that politicians such as Byrne - and he is not alone in my criticism - are able to continually get re-elected to parliament when they have shown themselves to be incompetent and therefore unworthy of that high office.
5 comments:
Completely agree. I've just sent something similar up into the ether. We no longer have fairies at the bottom of our gardens, we have politicians. Byrne is such a smug individual who evades the truth as far as possible, but in that, he's no different to the majority.
There are parallels with my experiences of management in large organisations. If a department is working well, you can bet that the relevant manager will take early retirement. His replacement will then proceed to change things around (to show his importance), and bugger everything up. A few years later.............
Well, you get the picture!
GV: thanks and have linked to yours to which you refer in a follow-up!
md: and you show just why we need to hand the b'stards!
Every so often I read a blog which contains a sentence or a phrase which immediately strikes a chord. Your phrase ".....about a nation who's well-being they had been entrusted" made me stop and think. Our politicians for the last 40 odd years had been entrusted with our well-being. Not only have they all failed miserably but they seem to have purposely failed. Whenever a measure could have been taken to make the counrtry better they have done the opposite e.g.:
increase immigration rather than reduce it
surrender more powers to Brussels rather than reclaim our sovereignty
Increase our commitments to a low carbon economy rather than relax them
Discourage rail travel rather than encourage it
Take the police off the streets rather than increasing their presence on the streets
etc, etc.
What have we done to deserve this?
As I pointed out some time ago, there are no consequences for politicians however much of a bad job they have done. Only a faulty personal life, criminality or caught lying has repercussions and those are likely short-lived these days. Look at Peter Mandelson, so many resurrections he could star in his own Buffy spin off. I did consider using 'fan-fic' but I thought it wouldn't be appropriate somehow.
Seriously, our political system precludes consequences, few people ever vote for individuals, they vote for parties or even more correctly, party leaders. Although often stated in a disparaging manner the old saw 'they would vote for a cardboard cut out as long as it had the right rosette' is none the less true for the great majority of constituencies, especially while the biggest support goes to the 'don't bother, stay at home' party. Thus no one is ever held to account, held in contempt by the public like Gordon Brown, John Major, Alistair Darling and Norman Lamont maybe, but unless they hold a marginal seat they still keep their seats and their committees, and even if they aren't re-elected they still get their after parliament sinecures and their peerages.
As things get worse and life gets difficult these attitudes will gradually change and we may see an awaking electorate that demands change, but I won't hold my breath. I suspect that whatever happens we will still be on the same old two party merry-go-round. I doubt little short of a bloody uprising will shock them out of their complacency, not even the LibDems collapsing to single figure seats, as I fervently hope and expect, at the next election. No doubt Labour and Conservative will see it as a cause for celebration rather than the warning it will be.
Of course, the next election may come too late for people to remember they hate them, but then again, maybe not.
Post a Comment