Completely bizarrely the Spring Statement from the Chancellor of the Exchequer will be delivered tomorrow. Whether we need a Spring Statement at all is not the point to discuss now. The fact that it will be delivered when the country is in constitutional crisis is what matters.
There is one speech Hammond needs to give tomorrow. It is this:
Mr Deputy Speaker, I have reflected on the obligations laid upon me today. In my opinion this is not the moment to present a statement to this House on this government's plans for the economy. There is too much we simply do not know at present to let me do that.
As such, with his permission and that of the House I propose to return to deliver my statement in May. By then matters relating to Brexit should have been resolved and the House will have had an adjournment during which it might have reflected on such matters, it will then be ready to look forward again.
I commend this decision to the House.
This will not happen of course. He will talk about all he proposes. And never will a Chancellor have spoken so purposelessly. He has no clue whether anything he says will be delivered. Less still does he know if he will be Chancellor. Or even be in government.
As such I will, by and large, be treating the event with the contempt it deserves.
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Hear, hear.
Maybe he might mention the most recent ONS figures showing how fast the economy is growing in spite of Brexit. I recall you posting something “meaningful” for the last monthly figures.. not suprisingly you are quiet now as you don’t like to report positive economic news.
The ONS growth rate announced today is 0.2%
You call that good news?
If you do you have a very weird idea of what is called good news by the ONS and Treasury
Colin
I agree with Richard.
You are too easily pleased.
You seem to have very low aspirations.
0.2% is not good enough.
You and we deserve better than that mate – and the GND, PQE and MMT (+ tax reform) could deliver it.
🙂
(Don’t tell Mr Crow)
What you want more economic growth? How do you tie that it with your green ideals? Green and growth don’t go hand in hand.. except when your on the outside and moaning about everything..
Read what I said with care
I did not fall into your trap
@ Colin
“Maybe he might mention the most recent ONS…….. ”
Such a sweetie. 🙂
Colin mate – Green New Deal (which would invest in low or lower carbon emitting energy amongst other things) would fit in perfectly well with Richard’s suggestions.
You can have a cleaner growth in the economy.
So, under the past and present economy one of the growth engines could be say the rise in car loans which isn’t really very green (because cars add to pollution don’t they?). But if more investment was made in green technology we might see those outputs push back the carbon problem. For example, wider electrification of the railways would lead to drop in diesel emissions and also create jobs and taxes.
Does that help you?