Comments on: Number crunching and party politics

By: A Labour Government Planning for Opposition 3 – The Ballsian View « Manicbeancounter’s Weblog

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:20:38 +0000

[...] UP – John Redwood stated yesterday [...]

By: ManicBeancounter

ManicBeancounter — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 22:09:29 +0000

This post is excellent in that is highlights the potential savings that can be made from eliminating waste, improving productivity and reducing error. However, there is another area you might also consider – of spending priorities. Much money could be saved by eliminating or reducing in those areas that do not serve the public well, or which are not cost effective. Labour seem unable to make the important descisions about the priorities, and have run out of random ideas to fill the papers, so instead have turned their spinning skills to the guerilla tactics of an opposition party.

By: Magelec

Magelec — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:03:47 +0000

Come the General Election the Tories should take a leaf out of New Labour’s book and say that they will keep to Labour’s spending plans for the first two years. That should keep Labour’s politicians quiet.

By: Mike Stallard

Mike Stallard — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:52:52 +0000

Just read Boris Johnson in the Telegraph today!

By: Mark M

Mark M — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:06:58 +0000

Cameron may be Mr 10%, but Gordon Brown is Mr 12% – 12% of GDP budget deficits that is.

However, Labour are going to bang on about public spending cuts. You need to be frank with them. Retort that you believe it is better for people to spend their money for themselves rather than the government confiscating it then spending it for them.

Also point out that if governments really were better at deciding what to spend money on than private citizens are, then we would have lost the Cold War and we would be having this argument in Russia (hat-tip Dan Hannan for this last part).

By: Adrian Peirson

Adrian Peirson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:58:48 +0000

They are statists, the believe that the state should control everything, the real problem with this is that it can, albeit propped up by massive soviet style inneficiency, corruption ate, but only at the point of a gun which is where we are moving to.

The One worlders are going for Broke, they have to really, the game is up.

Architects and Engineers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oO2yT0uBQbM
Nanothermite, the Final Scientific nail in the Coffin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_2et5WMvVQ

By: Adrian Peirson

Adrian Peirson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:53:25 +0000

Eh ?

By: Lola

Lola — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:04:18 +0000

Opps – Corrceted version:–

If I make ONE error in thousands of transactions – even if it is corrected and results in NO loss to anybody – a state bureaucrat turns up and fines me. Judge, jury and executioner. Deal with this!

What a difference a word makes!

Excuse – Flu.

By: jean baker

jean baker — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:31:58 +0000

David Cameron’s view of localized management and accountability in respect of all public services is basic economic sense.

By: ManicBeancounter

ManicBeancounter — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:11:38 +0000

Please do not be too upset about this Mr Redwood. The Labour Goverment is merely preparing itself for long period in opposition. Whenever, a member of the cabinet considers the Tory position before explaining their own, they should be congratulated on their corageous acceptance of the hopelessness of Labour’s current predicament. All that is needed is for someone to give the directions to the Prime Minister’s Chauffeur from No.10 to Buckingham Palace, as the poor Mr Brown seems incapable of giving direction.

By: THE ESSEX BOYS

THE ESSEX BOYS — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:00:54 +0000

Oops – forget the Totty above (Gordon’s had quite enough of that in his cabinet!) and sub Tory…it’s been a long weekend!

By: THE ESSEX BOYS

THE ESSEX BOYS — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:57:02 +0000

Britain will be done a great service if the debate can be focused on government waste and spending rather than ‘cuts’ and ‘investment’.

We’ve lost count of the times we have screamed at the tv screen when a minister boasts about the huge amount of OUR money he’s going to spend – or an opposition spokesman wriggles when confronted with Labour’s old chestnut of ‘Toty Cuts’.

Why don’t they retort…”IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SPEND IT’S THE WAY THAT YOU SPEND IT” !!

We all know that the way Labour spends our money is not the way any sensible businessman or housekeeper would budget and use hard-earned resources.

LET’S CHANGE THE CULTURE WITH THE EXPOSE AND DEBATE JOHN PROPOSES HERE!

By: marksany

marksany — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:53:20 +0000

John, it sounds like you are a fan of John Seddon, is this true? If not can I suggest you read “Systems thinking in the public sector” by Jon Seddon. Billions of potential savings with better service.

What’s not to like?

By: alan jutson

alan jutson — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:14:00 +0000

The sooner the Conservatives and the media nail this Labour “investment in the future” lie the better.

The population need to be made aware, if they are not already, that this so called investment is more borrowing and more debt.

The longer the delay in action to correct the overspending, the larger and more difficult the debt will be, to pay off.

EG: Take some pain now, or more later, that is the real choice.

By: oldrightie

oldrightie — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:21:30 +0000

As ever, excellent. Still, now Lord of All is in charge, expect a long prison sentence, ere long, John?

By: Mike Stallard

Mike Stallard — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 16:05:35 +0000

Comrade, I don’t think you understand modern economics.
Allow me.
Please repeat after me:

“I negotiate efficiency savings in order to invest.

“You cut, cut, cut so that you can remain a fat cat Tory in the Buller.

“He, she or it are placed in a Commission to Look Into Possible “Expenditure Reforms under a Chair on a decent salary because we “want the best person possible.”

By: Lola

Lola — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:11:50 +0000

If I make ONE error in thousands of transactions – even if it is corrected and results in loss to anybody – a state bureaucrat turns up and fines me. Judge, jury and executioner. Deal with this!

By: Stuart Fairney

Stuart Fairney — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:52:39 +0000

It is truly amazing that the wider media let them get away with the nonsense of good Ol’ Labour benificent public spending, whilst completely ignoring our collosal debts. (You won’t hear the word sustainable in this debate).

A restructuring of the public finance is inevitable whoever takes office in 12 months. To pretend otherwise is to lie.

By: Cliff.

Cliff. — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:34:51 +0000

I think we need to be more honest with the electorate!! Of course there will have to be cuts or of course, tax increases.
The problem as I see it, is that public bodies always see their budgets as last year’s budget plus a percentage, here in the real world, business looks at their current budget and looks at ways to save money; The public sector must, at the very least, do the same. I cannot believe that, within such large organisations as the the NHS, local government, the justice system etc there cannot be efficiency savings made.

Here’s something else for you to consider; If I went to my bank manager up to my neck in debt with minimal income and asked for a substantial loan to give away to charity, I am sure, despite being one of the new “government owned” banks, he would say no and send me away with a lecture about prudence and cutting my cloat according to my cloth. Why has Mr Cameron decided to match Labour’s foreign aid spending, given that Mr Brown has behaved like a crazed Aunt at a wedding with a big box of confetti in relation to handing out our money abroad?

By: Brian E.

Brian E. — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:16:15 +0000

The trouble is that there are so many Labour supporting non-tax payers that they don’t care if tax needs to rise to pay off the country’s debts. And a lot of the rest seem to think the extra tax will come from taxing someone else.
The Tories need to make it clear to the non-thinking classes that there will either be cuts to unnecessary government services and inefficiency, whilst leaving the NHS and military untouched, or massive tax increases, which will effect everybody, under Labour.
So far the Tories seem to be letting Labour make all the running.
What about a list of Qangos and projects that could be ditched?