Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Another Example of Gordon Brown's Forked Tongue

You know how Gordon Brown has trumpeted how he is going to ensure public sector projects are brought forward in order to alleviate the effects of the recession? A reader emails me with an example of a government agency which clearly hasn't got the message.
MULTI-million pound building projects at colleges in the city [Nottingham] and county are being delayed by a hold on funding. In an unprecedented decision by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) – responsible for further education in England and Wales – all capital project submissions for colleges have been deferred for at least three months. It means the future is uncertain for the £57m Basford Learning Park development to replace New College Nottingham's Basford Hall.
Approval was still being sought for the project from the LSC, which would have funded 70% of the development. David White, vice-principal at New College Nottingham (ncn), is frustrated, but said:"This innovative and crucial project, which will benefit the community, invest in the local economy and in the regional construction industry, remains a top priority." West Notts College's plans for a new £96m 'super college' for Ashfield and Mansfield could also be affected.

Feel free to furnish me with further examples of delayed building projects which fly in the face of the government's stated policy of 'bringing forward capital spending'.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not to worry the worm will turn!

These jobs boasts by Brown are shallow, Hollow and non-existent. I am one of the victims of Brown's downturn.

I have started A Blog chating Gordon Brown's political demise - the recovery starts when Gordon loses his job! The green shoots of recovery are the latest instalment!

Anonymous said...
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jailhouselawyer said...

I have an example of LibDem controlled Hull City Council allegedly speaking with a forked tongue. It's in relation to secret plans to privatise the sports and leisure facilities. Apparently, this is in breach of election promises. The council website does state a commitment to improve these facilities, however, there is no mention of privatisation.

Man in a Shed said...

Never mind that - wait until Gordon starts working out how to grab hold of private pensions. ( Forcing them to invest - in the people's priorities etc ).

R4 The World at One was hinting at it a few days ago ....

Anonymous said...

Everything Brown says seems to be misleading - No wonder politicians have such a bad reputation at the moment. When Brown loses his job it will not be confined to economic recovery but an improvement in the perception of politicians!

ItsFairComment said...

So, "Gordon Browns plan", a pale copy of the Swedish bank rescue plan of 1992,was the product of the thinking of a group of Bankers. Now our Prime Minister - in an obvious panic- wants one of those responsible for the first failed plan to come up with another or two. And throws in a peerage as inducement.

Lola said...

Browns forked tongue isn't the story. We know he's a liar.

What's much more encouraging is that these fruitless non-job creating state capex projects are being ditched wholesale. All they've got to do now is unload the non-workers as well and we'll start getting somewhere in sorting this recession.

Every job lost in the state sector is one or probably more gained in the private - wealth creating - sector.

GWH said...

The entire Queen Elizabeth Class carrier program was delayed by the government, and not brought forward at all. This was, apparently, in the name of reducing costs. I am at a loss to explain how taking longer, paying more man-hours and delaying the commissioning of two carriers which the Royal Navy needs, saves money. It merely appears to, by spreading the cost over more budget cycles.
If Brown really wants to create more employment, why not employ more people to encourage the completion of the carriers, and the Type-45 Destroyers to escort them?