Gordon Brown is hosting a "European global economic summit" with President Sarkozy and the Commission's President Barroso at Downing Street today. When we ask Mrs Merkel's office why she is not going, the indignant reply is "Ask Gordon Brown why she hasn't been invited".
Ouch. The lady goes up in my estimation. Expect much closer links between the Conservatives and the CDU over the coming months - although, it's actually the FDP, the German Liberal Party, which is closer in outlook and ideology to the Conservatives. I always find it amusing when British Liberal Democrats say how wonderful the FDP is. If they studied its policy platform they would be horrified. It is pure, unadulterated Thatcherism laced with a high degree of social liberalism. If I were a German I would always vote FDP!
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Having had their currency lose all its value twice in the last century, and in circumstances not entirely unlike the present one, the Germans have gained some experience in this sort of thing, and it has taught them two things: 1) to be careful and 2) that throwing money at the problem will eventually mean that you'll have no money left.
BTW, I wouldn't call the FDP 'Thatcherite'. Translated into British terms, they stretch an ideological divide ranging from the LibDems to right-wing Tories. And this has often caused them great trouble (and harm). The same goes for more European 'libertine' parties, such as the Dutch VVD or the Swedish conservatives
I must admit it was wonderfully funny to watch Nick Clegg in the Lib Dem leadership debate talk about the recent German election result as an attempt to block the German liberals (FDP) from being in government.
The election results show that with just 10% of the additional member vote (which is often spouted as the means to even up the system) they were of no use whatsoever to Angela Merkel in forming a coalition. Forcing her to drop aggressive economic reforms to appease the SDP, which would have been supported by the very pro free market FDP.
Not that I like tipping my hat to them, but special kudos to the Economic Minster (SPD) who backed Merkels plan and issues the now famous lemmings quote.
Also, how apt that the incredibly vain President Sarkozy is the one standing next to Brown looking important and having wonderful photo opportunities.
How long until i can get my Brown voodoo doll i wonder?
Indeed "Pure unadulterated Thatcherism" is just what the world needs at the moment....
You really couldn't make it up! Will the worshippers at the shrine of the Blessed Margaret never learn? It reminds me of those religious fanatics who go to the top of the mountain every year to celebrate their redeemer’s return. He never come back of course - and nor will dear daft old Maggie and her mad bunch of fanatical fans.
Thank God!
If you read on you find oddly enough that the FDP see it rather differently:
"Mrs Merkel would like to be in a different coalition after the election, with the Free Democrats. Their leader Guido Westerwelle tells me this is all about short-term politics. "It's really a problem that the rest of Europe is reacting and that the German government is still hesitating. The German government is concerned with the election campaign next year, but it would be better to act now by lowering taxes. Perhaps they are hesitating because they want to decide this very close to the election, but by then it could be too late."
I'm trying to discern any coherent conservative argument other than simply gainsaying the government for its own sake. Is there one?
There is an interesting divide in the European partners of the LidDems like Ilja points out. The FDP, the Dutch VVD, the Flemish VLD and the Danish Venstre party are much closer to the conservatives on many economic policies than the are to the LibDems. Although most of them will never leave the ELDR party in the EU parliament, the Conservatives should not rule out working with them on many economic issues
This is good news as it will stop all that spin from Brown about the whole world but Cameron being keen on destroying their futures with debt.
On second thoughts it won't stop him - as the truth never does - but it will make him look like what he really is.
It's quite simple: Angela Merkel is from East Germany and they tried, and failed, socialist bailouts and subsidisation - and it was a disaster.
They learnt from their mistakes: so why can't Brown learn from Labour's postwar economic mistakes?
Ah - but THOSE labour government weren't led by the magnificent, the prudent and egomanical one and only Gordon Brown - soon may her RIP (retire in pieces)
@Wilted Rose: don't know whether East Germany (the GDR) ever learned from their mistakes; the fact that they didn't is illustrated by their present lack of existence.
Browns mantra repeated ad nauseum is 'the conservatives are the 'do nothing' party.
Leaving aside the fact that that is not true the Conservative should respond ad nauseum accordingly.
Brown is not governing to 'get through' the recession. He is governing to get through to the election. The economic bankruptcy of his arguments and the illiteracy of his borrowing and taxation predictions do not matter. It would all come home to roost AFTER the election.
Isn't a "European global economic summit" a bit of a contradiction in terms?
A bit like the British Interplanetary Society, based in Vauxhall...
I love the FDP. My style of liberalism... not the softy wimpish style as practised by the Liberal Democrats
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