Sunday, January 06, 2008

Brown's Mirror Lapdog Back in Form

Bob Roberts, Political Editor of The Mirror has written THIS paen to the Prime Minister. Does it sound to you...

a) like the thoughtful prose of one of Britain's leading journalists
b) like it has been written by the PM's spin doctor Damian McBride?
c) like it has been written by Comical Ali David Boothroyd (of this parish)

If I wrote that kind of guff about David Cameron I wouldn't have a reader left. No wonder The Mirror is up the creek without a paddle.

PS Originally I wrote that this piece had been written by Kevin Maguire. As a columnist at least he'd have had an excuse!

22 comments:

David Boothroyd said...

I do know how to spell 'pæan' properly and with a ligature. And I also know how to engage in political argument without bringing my opponent's personality into it, which is a skill it seems is in short supply in these parts despite what some people would have you believe.

Anonymous said...

Iain, I think this particular article is actually by Bob Roberts. The man who, in his previous post, says it's going to be our fault if there's a recession and not lovely Gordy's.

David Boothroyd - you've never had a political argument in your life, as such a thing would require talking about issues and not just posting Labour party press releases and spin as fact.

Anonymous said...

some great comments so far on that site

Anonymous said...

Well, either that's proof of the parallel universe theory, or a disgrace to the profession.

Vienna Woods said...

Actually Iain, the author of this nonsense is one of Maguire's first year apprentices, Bob Roberts, who believe it or not, is the "Political Editor" of the Mirror. The journalistic style echoes some of the worst East European communist propaganda that I ever witnessed during my extended visits there 30 years ago. Judging by the 3 hostile replies and zero support for the juvenile prose, he flunked it - O.K. back to the drawing board eh!

Anonymous said...

Is Gordon Brown the most inept, out-of-touch yet touchy prime minister ever?

This is a serious question. Has there ever been a bigger lump of nothing than Gordon Brown?

David Boothroyd said...

That the United Kingdom now has sustained economic growth with low inflation is a fact. That no other government has seen the same during its time is also a fact. It is a political argument to say that it is due the Chancellor, but it is a pretty direct connection between key economic decisions of the Chancellor and Britain's current happy economic situation.

I note yet another response which does not attempt to counter the argument but instead makes personal criticism.

Praguetory said...

In fairness it doesn't sound like a, b or c. It really is sub-prime standard - so risible it is probably best ignored.

copydude said...

I give credit where credit is due and here Iain scores.

The Mirror is disinformation central and shameful journalism.

Their Bhutto cover story - 'The End of Democracy' and 'It's Al Quaeda Wot Dun It' shows where Kevin is buried in complicity. The fact that Pakistan was not a democracy, and that the shooting (we'll discover what really went down later) is being rapidly covered up - or fire hosed away - shows that he is not an enquiring mind, surely the only prerequisite of a true journalist.

You don't have to be left or right to find problems with Mirror journalism.

I know educational standards are slipping, but anyone who didn't spot this meaningless drivel is probably in a coma in a darkened room.

Quote:

"It is a man fighting for things which matter to ordinary people."


Did he mention utility bills?

Anonymous said...

That the United Kingdom now has sustained economic growth with low inflation is a fact...it is a pretty direct connection between key economic decisions of the Chancellor and Britain's current happy economic situation.

Sorry David, which Chancellor do you mean - Geoffrey Howe, Nigel Lawson, John Major, Norman Lamont, or Kenneth Clarke?

Unsworth said...

@ David Boothroyd

Are you a ligature expert then? I've often wanted to use a ligature too. Could we borrow your neck for a while?

But before that, are you also personally prepared to guarantee that everyone's personal standard of living will raise during the next twelve months? If so, to where do we address claims for failure (just in case, you'll understand)?

Frankly if your comments are based upon anything which has emanated from this government then we may just as well ignore them. Any 'growth' has been built on quite phenomenal escalations in personal and national debt. We are individually and collectively in hock up to our eyballs. Growth, my arse. Brown has deliberately chosen to ignore and avoid any comment on this aspect.

The fact is that almost everyone in the City knows that we're in for a very bumpy ride - and comparisons with the American situation are, frankly, fatuous. I'd trust their judgement any day. Do you trust the judgement of Brown - who flogged off all the gold having telegraphed his intentions, and of Darling - who has signally failed to deal effectively with Northern Crock?

I'm telling you, there's going to be plenty of blood on the carpet before year end.

Anonymous said...

Naughty Iain, taking the proverbial out of a true believer! The rest of us will forgive you for a typo or two.

Yes I'd noticed Brown was back from his hols, looking shifty in newsclips as usual.

David Boothroyd said...

Unsworth, you may think that the UK's present happy economic state is coincidental to the government (in which case, there's no reason to change the government because it wouldn't actually improve anything). However, you would not carry the IMF with you. See the IMF survey at page 14.

The section starts with praise: "The United Kingdom’s macroeconomic performance over the past decade has been enviable. Not only has it secured the highest per capita GDP growth among the Group of Seven major industrial countries .. but it has done so with the lowest volatility while maintaining low and stable unemployment and inflation."

It concludes with a serious remark about future UK policies: "In conclusion, to sustain success in the United Kingdom, macroeconomic and financial policies must remain attuned to the changing global environment. Monetary policy will need to walk a tightrope amid competing risks, including those that emanate from globalization trends."

I have heard nothing from the Conservative Party which indicates they acknowledge any of this.

copydude said...

Quote:

Verity said...

"Is Gordon Brown the most inept, out-of-touch yet touchy prime minister ever?

This is a serious question. Has there ever been a bigger lump of nothing than Gordon Brown?"

This will be a good question for historians. He has announced (for a refreshing change) some positive measures: on housing, energy, infrastructure.

Whether he is sincere or not, I can't say. But it remains that the Labour Party had ten (lost) years to consider such issues. It is unlikely any Brown initiatives will now see the light of day.

At the end of the day, Brown funded Blair all those years as Chancellor. To answer Verity's question, was he 'out of touch' ?

Oh, with the hands on the treasury purse strings, not for a minute.

Let's face it, wars are hugely expensive. So the sins of Brown and Blair are equal.

Anonymous said...

Bob Roberts: he just cannot be serious?

Unsworth said...

@ David Boothroyd

"The United Kingdom’s macroeconomic performance over the past decade has been enviable."

Two points:

a) That was the legacy of the previous Conservative administration. "Ten years" - did you notice that? Or are you possibly suggesting that the day G Brown took over everything changed? In any event he's now pissed that up against the wall.

b) "In conclusion, to sustain success in the United Kingdom, macroeconomic and financial policies must remain attuned to the changing global environment. Monetary policy will need to walk a tightrope amid competing risks, including those that emanate from globalization trends."
You bet, baby - and yet another statement of the bleeding obvious from the IMF. Question is, what exactly is Brown going to do? He's got no room for manoeuvre and he's blown his (our) resources. All he can do is tighten our belts for us all, via his puppet Darling, of course.

Frankly the IMF is just a social club. The real sharp end is the City. They knew ages ago about the sub-prime tsunami, but the IMF didn't even acknowledge the problem until September. And when did Northern Crock start collapsing, then? Take a look at the share movements.

Or are you saying that the IMF is more prescient than those traders down on the floor? Well, so far that's never been the case.

Anyway, just put up your personal guarantee that everything's going to be just fine for us all, eh? Then we can all just relax. In the meantime I'm moving my cash out.

Anonymous said...

At least Roberts is not as bad as that dozy "Red" Rosa Prince who used to work at the Mirror and is now blogging at the Telegraph and attacked her old boss at the Mirror Oonagh Blackman who's now a spad for Shaun Woodward. Pointless little pixie that she is.

Anonymous said...

Some great comments on the link you provided Iain.
Re biased press:
Now Roger Alton has left The Observer, it's gone straight back to being The Guardian On Sunday.
Today's edition is awful - devoted to puffing Brown and New Labour.
They even got that grubby little spinner Derek Draper to tell us that Gordon is a regular guy.
I won't buy it again and I expect others will feel the same way.

copydude said...

behopper said:

Quote:

"They even got that grubby little spinner Derek Draper to tell us that Gordon is a regular guy.
I won't buy it again and I expect others will feel the same way."

The Guardian, like the BBC, is run by MI6. Ask Frank Gardner or Paul Wood.

That's one thing that won't change with any election.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like something Andrew Marr would come up with. But then, the BBC gets my £125 all the same.

I would not even allow my fish and chips to be wrapped in the Daily Mirror.

However if it was the only toilet paper available, I might consider putting it to proper use, but only if there was no other options available.

BTW

The last time I accused the BBC of being run by MI6 and MI5 on the Bias BBC blog my comments were deleted.

IMH considered O

The Bias BBC blog is sponsored by the same people that control the BBC. Rather clever really.

One day people will understand that the whole world is run by conspiracies of one kind or another. For all we know Iain could be working for the KGB. He most likely is not however.

They never employ people from secondary modern, or low class grammar schools under any conditions.

Anonymous said...

Brown hasn't learnt that the more hyper active he is and the more frequently he is seen the lower his opinion poll ratings.

Vienna Woods said...

Dear Mr Boothroyd,

Glossing over the last 10 years of extremely dodgy accounting by the not-so-prudent Brown, perhaps you could answer a few things:-

(1) When was the last time that the UK's current account was in balance?

(2) What is the accrued debt in our National account since Labour came to power in 1997?

(3) To what current National levels are we in debt and to whom?

(4) Have we any reserves left, or has your prudent friend blown them all?

(5) Why did Brown give the Bank of England a free rein:-

(a) Was it that he couldn't be arsed with the responsibility!
(b) If they f****d up he could dodge the flac, or
(c) He didn't know what he was doing, but the big boys were bullying him.

Quite frankly, this new "paper" economy has been a disaster waiting to happen. Europe and the USA have not ignored their manufacturing industry the way the UK has done and now there is nothing to fall back on, most of which will affect the lives of the typical Mirror reader. Maybe you'd like to swap horses while you can.