Where are the Chinese?

LA is wondering what China is up to. With the global economy on a knife edge and the US political elite tearing themselves apart, Chona stays silent. What is their plan, they could use their vast reserves to help kick start things,to assist with global liquidity. But no, they do nothing. Surely they would want a strong global economy,after all they are the worlds workshop. Or are they happy to see a weakened US and damaged EU. Do they see this as a way to shortcut their way up the global economic ladder. The strange thing, if not worrying thing is that LA is pretty sure that not only is he unsure, but so is every Western government.

Government removal from reality

As ministers speak out against the PM (in Code at least), and they speak of global forces hurting our economy, LA looks on in wonderment. At no point has any of them considered that the nation is over taxed, business over regulated and the state too big, too wasteful and a parasite on its own people. Is there really not one of them who even asks the question?
The answer is of course no. None of them has ever run a business (certainly not in recent years). None has ever had to understand the risk that is now involved in employing someone in modern Britain. None of them worries about their pension. Their transport and fuel costs haven't gone up as its all on expenses.
The power bubble corrupts perceptions, and personalities.
These are not the true leaders of our nation, they are a mediocre bunch of idealists around a semi socialist agenda. Go now, please, for the good of your country, go.

LA

What should Brown do?

LA has been asked to do 5 Live tonight on the subject of what should Brown do now. LA has been asked to give the business perspective. Without being partisan, LA's posting of 6th Sept says it all. Brown needs to call an election.At the very least he has to show the balls John Major had and start a leadership contest himself. That way, and that way alone can we have government that concentrates on government for the next 2 years instead of a government interested only in the short term survival of the PM.

LA has been asked how Brown can re-engage. from the business communities perspective, LA is not sure he can. CGT was a real burning bridges moment, never had a government pulled such a surprise on the business community, no consultation and no forethought.
Business feels it is always the soft target for Browns taxes, small business in particular feels it is the administrative arm of a Brown government as it deals with Tax credits and a whole raft of red tape that seems to appear with every Government initiative.

Over the next 2 years this country requires real leadership and strong stewardship, LA knows of no one who genuinely believes that Mr Brown is the best person in the country top do that.

Lord Allesley

Pointless Muppet Show in Brirmingham

LA has just returned from his morning with the Cabinet in Birmingham. What a charade. It at some points, felt more like a focus group for a manifesto, maybe it was.
LA has dealt with many a politician in his time but has never been in a room with the whole Cabinet. What an underwhelming Mafia of the mediocre, and thats polite.

The entire event was stage managed, questions vetted and dissent impossible. It was MC'd by Digby Jones. Any doubts that he had gone native are history. He gushed over Gordon as though he had a schoolboy crush. He said he had joined the government because of Gordons vision. LA fails to see how the vision of a Socialist Utopia could appeal to a former head of the CBI.

LA was particularly disturbed by some of the announcements that were made on developments in the West Midlands. These were developments that had the RDA involved, and there use as a media stunt shows that the RDA is being manipulated for party poitics.

LA has left with no doubt that this country is rudderless, leadership is non existant and the incumbeant government stagger around desperate for ideas.

Heaven Help us all.

Union Rants Have Started

Brendan Barber of the TUC say the rich (apparently anyone on over £100k) should be taxed more.
A report has been issued which also says Britain has more super rich than ever.

The report says Russian oil magnate and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich is currently Britain's second-richest man, worth £11.7bn, followed by the Duke of Westminster on £7bn, Sri and Gopi Hinduja on £6.2bn and Alisher Usmanov on £5.7bn.

Mr Barber, look at the list, all bar one have come to the UK because of its current tax regime, and up until recently its lack of surprise tax changes(CGT changed that view).

If we change the tax regime these foreign investors will leave, none will come in to replace them, and just like the 70's Brits will also leave and take their tax money with them.

Barber said extreme wealth was "socially divisive and morally objectionable". No Mr Barber, envy is divisive and morally objectionable, stop trying to destroy the country.

LA

TUC comedy

LA loves the conference season.
The Greens have gone first and spouted rubbish that amounts to Communism when it comes to the economy.
Now it is the clowns of the Unions to go. To quote todays Times" Tony Woodley General Secretary of Unite
"He said that the dire state of the economy called for radical policies and for Labour to throw out neo-liberal economics. Mr Brown had to “do a damn sight more to regain the confidence of the country”, he added. He also repeated union demands for a reversal of many of Margaret Thatcher’s trade union reforms. "
Yes , tax ,spend ,"redistribute" and regulate has failed what we need is an even more extreme version of it. These people are off another planet and of another era, these people also influence the Government.
Tony Woodley if you have a spoon full of poison it may make you very sick, if you drink the whole bottle, you die.

LA also notes that some of the current economic uncertainty comes from political uncertainty. Investors require stability and certainty. We sit 2 months from an American election that is too close to call. Which one wins will influence investment decisions, and will influence liquidity in banking. On this side of the pond we are effectively without government. No worse than that, we are without leadership and with a government that meddles and tinkers without thought and without warning. Mr Brown could go any day, or he could hang on 18 months, and in 18 months Cameron, who has not elucidated on his policies. Uncertainty breeds volatility. We have 2 months for the Yanks to sort themselves out, Mr Brown please call an election now and let this side of the pond get some certainty. One things for sure, the moment Brown goes, the pound will rally against the Euro.

Lord Allelsey

Relaunch is fataly flawed

The last 24 hours has seen as some parts of the media have put it, the Brown relaunch.
LA, is bemused , it is like painting the mast on a ship that has a gaping hole in the hull and relaunching it.
Again we see policy initiatives that are about propping up a failed PM, not about propping up the economy or helping the people of the nation. Incredibly from the bunker at No 10, the fools do not realise that everyone can see through it.
Mr Brown, if you have any integrity do what is right by your country, not what is good for your ego.

LA.