Mike's Columns in the Portsmouth News
Learn the lesson from the Greeks
Recent economic events have certainly been very worrying but they were not unforeseen – by some at least if not Gordon Brown. The BBC presenter and their former economics editor, Evan Davis said last week: “The Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor, Vince Cable was sending me as an economics editor emails every three weeks, about the levels of debt throughout the last five years and he has been instrumental in saying that the taxpayer needs to be protected nationalising the banks and in having the upside risks as well as the downside ones.” And he went on to say: “It sounds to me like I should vote for Vince Cable.”
In Greek myths, Cassandra had the fate to be always right in her predictions but never listened to. It is unfortunate that Gordon Brown has followed example of the Greeks and not listened to Vince.
Last week the Lib Dems launched a ten point action plan to tackle our economic woes and help hard-pressed families as they struggle to meet their bills. If Gordon Brown had any sense, he would start listening to us. At the heart of our plan is a tax cut of over £1,000 a year for average earners – paid for by getting the very rich to pay a fairer share in tax. This in turn would put money in people’s pocket to help kick start the economy.
We would stop unnecessary home repossessions and provide more affordable housing. Energy companies would be made to reinvest their windfall profits to help cut people’s bills. And banks and city firms would be better regulated so they didn’t take such high risks in the future.
With Parliament returning this week, the Government must act quickly and decisively to help protect the economy and the Lib Dems will offer our full co-operation in getting any sensible measure through Parliament as quickly as possible. I have also been horrified in the past few weeks by the Government suggesting that HMS Victory might not stay in the Royal Navy so I will continue to do all that I can as an MP in the coming weeks to oppose her leaving the Navy.
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