Gordon Brown is currently doing what politicians do so well: Blaming others when things go wrong, not long after taking personal credit for when things go well. This time, the economy seems to be failing to be meet his inflated expectations as a result of rising oil prices, when a few years ago the booming economy was a result of his stewardship - or so he would have us believe.
The Guardian covers this today, and suggests that this makes Gordon Brown look politically weak. That’s very much the case, because the options available as a result of slower-than-anticipated growth are stark: Cutting spending or raising taxes further. A tax-raising politician is never going to be popular, much less a tax-raising Prime Minister. It could also be political suicide if the economy starts moving towards recession and taxes are rising not falling in an attempt to stimulate growth. None of this is helped by the fact that politicians did not even deal with the subject honestly in the recent general election. It’s even suggested that Brown played up the “good news” in the face of the facts to build a “feel good factor”. Electioneering tactics at their most dangerous.
I’m worried that we’re going to see some serious political shenanigans when it comes to dealing with the potential shortfall in the finances that has existed for some time, despite the smaller, hidden, tax rises we’ve had. But the fact of the matter is the chancellor has been over-enthusiastic in his estimations, and too quick to blame everybody else other than the one group who is really responsible for getting us into a precarious position: the current cabinet, led by himself and Tony Blair.
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