Minister states the bloomin' obvious

"Life is difficult". This was the sage-like, pop-savvy message that Communities Secretary Hazel Blears used to defend Gordon Brown after the Tories argued that the PM is responsible for the current economic crisis.

In answer to her edifying yet obvious comment Westmonster would like to respond with the following: "No shit".

On a Radio 4 broadcast this morning, Blears explained that she can understand how we lowly members of the public are concerned with the seemingly ever-rising cost of living, homes and utility bills: "These are difficult times", she stated, "The real test of a strong government is whether or not it stands firm on its policies in such times."

Somehow this means that because Gordon Brown isn't doing anything about the country's situation he's a doing a good job. If you're confused, we don't really see the logic either. But perhaps that's why we're not qualified to be politicians.

We do agree that life is difficult, though. Recent studies have shown that levels of debt and depression in The UK are just about higher than ever, small businesses are closing down at disturbingly rapid rates, and more Britons are emigrating to countries like Australia than ever before - despite the fact that it's full of Australians.

Indeed, England doesn't seem to be the monument to felicity that we were perhaps imagining. Who's to blame, though? Gordon Brown? George Bush? George Brown? Or Tony Blair?

For the time being there doesn't seem to be anything that Gordon Brown can do: He doesn't control the banks, or the chemical reactions in people's heads, nor the alluring nature of Australia's blue beaches and cheap houses and better paid jobs. Perhaps England's time in the sun is simply over.

Which probably makes Gordon Brown's life really difficult...

Written by Oli Anderson on 14 Apr 2008 12:15 PM. Permalink