The Brownian Approach to Politics

Gordon Brown has in recent weeks demonstrated a four-step approach to politics:

Step one: Realise what you’ve done wrong (but don’t admit it)
Step two: Announce in the most brazen terms that the worst thing you could possibly do is what you’ve already done wrong
Step three: Compound the problem by acting as though you haven’t done anything wrong, ever.
Step four: Pray the public are as stupid as you presume them to be.

Allow me to prove my thesis by referring to GB’s speech this morning to the CBI:

Exhibit A

Step one: Realise you’ve racked up levels of debt not seen in the UK since the 1940s, all to finance a vast expansion of the state.

Step two: Announce that:“If we have learnt anything in these last tumultuous and unprecedented months, it is that this is not the time to become prisoners of the old dogmas of the past”

Step three: Borrow even more to spend on government projects and temporary tax cuts, all to be paid for at a later date by tax rises, especially for high earners (does this remind anyone of an old dogma?)

Step four: Pray the public are as stupid as you presume them to be.

Exhibit B

Step one: Realise that the last ten years of economic mis-management has left the country’s coffers woefully under-prepared for a downturn and that, far from leading the globe, Britain has been behind the US, Ireland, Germany, Australia and Lord knows who else in proposing significant measures to tackle the economic downturn.

Step two: State that: “Doing too little too late would mean more damage, more deterioration – the loss of vital business – a weaker economy, lower growth…”

Step three: Months after other countries have offered significant tax cuts and fiscal stimuli, introduce a temporary 2.5% reduction in VAT that is likely to cost £12bn but represents a tenth of what desperate retailers are already lopping off their prices to no avail.

Step four: Pray the public are as stupid as BBC political correspondants.

Exhibit C

Step one: Realise that Government has wasted billions on pet projects, quangos, failed IT systems, myriad consultants and Blackberry training.

Step two: Proclaim that “We must ensure we get the greatest value we can for every pound we spend”

Step three: Announce significant increases in Government spending and, well, you know what follows.

Step four: Pray…


The mainstream media has seemingly allowed Brown to get away with steps one to three, we must ensure he is not allowed to get away with step four.