Debate on economic policy, such as it is, has now been narrowed to an exchange between one party that wants to increase public spending and another that also wants to increase it, but at a slightly lower rate. Indeed, there is an atmosphere of near- witch-hunt against anyone who dares to deviate from the cross-party chant: "Public spending good, big tax cuts bad."
This leaves the electorate with little choice in the economic realm between Tweedle-Dum and Tweedle-Dee. And heaven help you if you depart from the script. Barely had the name of Nick Herbert emerged as the Conservative candidate to replace the errant Howard Flight than the BBC had sunk its teeth into him.
Yesterday morning, Gordon Brown joined the lynch-mob, faux-shocked that Mr Herbert had not only advocated reductions in public expenditure but also the adoption of a flat tax in Britain. Brown referred to this issue several times, as if it was an idea akin to shooting the poor (after, presumably, all the nation’s hospitals have been closed and school-teachers summarily fired en masse). A flat tax! Whatever next? Social security abolished and soup kitchens in the street?
<< Blogue