Blog 2023 Malcolm Blair-Robinson

An idea to stimulate economic growth without further government borrowing. Written in plain English and very easy to follow, this is the only really fresh approach out there to the intractable problems of the UK economy, and it is just beginning to be noticed in important places. Buy! 

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There are, as every voter knows, many serious issues concerning the strength, nature and shape of the economy and the social knock on effects that they bring. On Monday Labour presented a sober manifesto aimed at those in society, which are the majority, who have yet to feel the benefits of economic recovery. Milliband gave perhaps his strongest performance yet in its presentation and earned praise from commentators. Once again there was a lack of financial detail, a common failing on all sides in an election taking on the shape of an auction, but clear undertakings for fiscal responsibility. It should play well on the doorstep, but the finances will be well and truly picked over by commentators and opponents.

Today it is the turn of the Lib Dems to present their plans, which are, like Labour, sober and not too ambitious. They are more detailed financially than the two big parties and aimed not to become the government, which lib Dems know they cannot, but more to promote themselves as the voice of reason among jostling extremes in any coalition or similar deal.

The shocker has been the offering of the Tories which must rank as one of the most irresponsible attempts to entice votes with promises which cannot be kept, or if they are, will bring about calamity. Anybody who has made a study of how we went from a major industrial power to one where over 70% of the economy is consumption, mostly of imports, and where total debt per household is among the highest in the world, where house price inflation has enslaved huge swathes of the population to working all hours to meet mortgage payments, knows that it began with the right to purchase council homes. Not only has the financial sector come to dominate the economy and suck resources away from everything else from manufacturing to healthcare, but there is now a chronic housing shortage and lack of actual building on anything like the scale needed.

To now demand of housing associations that they succumb to a directive which they oppose, to sell at substantial discount social housing and thus defeat the whole purpose of their origins, just to satisfy the Tory fetish for home ownership which they believe favours them, without regard to whether it is sensible, the right time or affordable, is grossly irresponsible and deeply cynical. The housing associations will be entitled to receive the shortfall in value from the government for which any Tory government will not have the money. The problem is explained away in a convoluted muddle of forcing local authorities to sell their more expensive properties when they become vacant, which is half baked and against the national interest. Of course it will promote loads more borrowing to fatten the already grossly obese finance industry.

This blog is impartial so vote Tory if you want to. But you will live to regret it if your vote helps them to win. Especially if you are a home owner with a mortgage. Remember negative equity? Well it will be back with Cameron. But first the feel good binge of a boom. Enjoy that while you can because what comes after will be dark days indeed.

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An idea to stimulate economic growth without further government borrowing. Written in plain English and very easy to follow, this is the only really fresh approach out there to the intractable problems of the UK economy, and it is just beginning to be noticed in important places. Buy Now!  99p  Kindle or  £2.99 paperback

Kindle or Paperback  UK        US                

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    Malcolm Blair-Robinson U.S        

    Malcolm Blair-Robinson U.K.

Well that depends whose side you are on. This is a typical move for a Tory campaign, but this is not a typical campaign. Given that the beneficiaries of this latest Tory tax goodie are almost all Tory voters, it is unlikely that it will gain any for Cameron. On the other hand it plays very well for Labour and might get more of their core vote to the polls. It also plays well for the Lib Dems who have advanced recently after alleging that the Tories in government looked after the ‘bosses’ while the Lib Dem ministers looked after the ordinary workers.

There is something seriously discordant about promising the biggest cut back in public spending since whenever, which will impact welfare and all things to do with the poor, while at the same time finding cash to give the biggest death duty bonanza since 1945. This will surely underline Milliband’s message more then Cameron’s.

According to the Royal College of Nursing the number of NHS hospital nurses is now lower than it was in 2010. This is in part due to the reduction in training places due to cuts, with the effect that thousands who apply to become nurses cannot get trained. This is turn leads to recruiting nurses from overseas who are already trained.

This is barmy. It is also at variance with the claims of the coalition parties that they have boosted the number of nurses and maintained spending on the NHS in real terms. At the very least there seems to have been a degree of robbing Peter to pay Paul. Efficiency savings is one thing, but a plan to increase nurses at  the same time as reducing training places is ridiculous.

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To celebrate the new cover image for the paperback and Kindle editions of this Nazi era drama, it is available free to download until midnight US Pacific Time Sunday. The image shows Karl Kaufmann, Gauleiter of Hamburg and husband of the woman on whose life the character of Lise is based in the book, riding in the left back seat of Hitler’s car.

The UK Trade deficit was worse than expected in February.

Goods exported in February were the lowest since 2010.

The trade deficit with the EU is at a record high.

The UK economy is 70% consumer spending and has not been rebalanced in favour of manufacturing.

Most economists agree that no long term recovery can be built on this model.

The UK has the lowest productivity per capita of any of the industrial nations, behind the US, Germany, France, etc.

We need to have an election campaign that stops throwing insults and tossing out financial promises which are unlikely to be kept and instead gets real on what is going on in the world on which we depend.

    BROWSE MY BOOKS WITH THESE LINKS 

    Malcolm Blair-Robinson U.S        

    Malcolm Blair-Robinson U.K.