Whoopee! The Recession is Over!... errrm...

We all jumped for joy t'other day when figures for economic growth in the third quarter showed that the economy had grown by 1%, thus (technically) ending the UK's double-dip recession. Phew! Mr Osborne's plan is working! Well, cut off my legs and call me shorty and pardon me for doubting.

But hang on, what's this? Apparently 0.7% of the growth is sales of tickets for the Olympics - which won't be repeated so that will drop out of the figures for the next quarter, which leaves growth of 0.3%. Moreover, the sales of Olympics tickets merely goes to offset some of the £9 billion the Olympics cost us. So actually things are still looking a bit shaky. Back to the drawing board!

Tory Idiots #371: George Osborne

Virgin trains are to be commended for their discretion in attempting to calm the somewhat embarrassing episode in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer failed to buy the correct ticket for his journey from Wilmslow. It is reported that Osborne's flunky attempted to negotiate with the ticket inspector but, in any case, Osborne eventually did pay up the difference between standard and first class and he was thus spared the indignity of having to move into standard and brush shoulders with the plebs.

But the fact remains that Osborne knew when he got on the train that he only had a standard ticket but nevertheless sat in first class. If paying the difference was not an issue, why not buy a first class ticket to start with? The suspicion remains therefore that he intended to get away with not paying the difference and would have done so had it not been for the diligence of the ticket inspector.

George Osborne: Ignorance

Today's philosophical conundrum. Just as honesty is not always the best policy i.e. you shouldn't necessarily tell your Mum that she has a fat behind, sometimes it's best not to know the awful truth. And people are entitled to remain ignorant, if they so wish. But it is a shame when members of the Government pursue this right so determinedly.

So I'm going to abandon all this Socratic pondering for today, be honest, defy George Osborne's rights, and reveal the awful truth:

George, you are an idiot who doesn't have a clue what he's doing, and your pal Cameron is a vacuous twit.

I Love Jeremy Paxman

Sir Gideon Osborne's latest about-turn, postponing the rise in fuel duty despite previously insisting it was essential, was discussed on BBC2's Newsnight programme alongside a report on Sir Gideon's penchant for changing his mind and generalised inconsistency. At the end of the piece The Blessed Jeremy Paxman interviewed Chloe Smith MP who is apparently the Economic Secretary to the Treasury. It was excrutiatingly embarassing for Smith who was clearly out of her depth as well as simply ignorant. Paxman was on top form, ripping the the wretched woman to shreds. I like the bit where he says to her "Is this some kind of joke?" but I think he is being a bit of a bully when he asks "Are you incompetent?"

Incidentally, Smith studied English Literature at University and worked briefly as a 'management consultant'. Splendid qualifications for the job of Economic Secretary! (Paxman also studied English but then he's a journalist and broadcaster so that kind of follows.)