Newsnight - James Meadway

[NuBrit]

Is anyone watching this with as much amazement as I am?

Some chap called James Meadway is arguing that Britain is going the same way as Greece by slashing public sector spending. He doesn't seem to accept the notion that Greece's woes were caused by too much spending and not enough taxation

Do folks on this form agree with this ideology?

[tomandlu]

Is anyone watching this with as much amazement as I am?

Some chap called James Meadway is arguing that Britain is going the same way as Greece by slashing public sector spending. He doesn't seem to accept the notion that Greece's woes were caused by too much spending and not enough taxation

Do folks on this form agree with this ideology?

I would agree that there is no point in cutting public spending unless you are cutting taxation as well.

Given the differences between Greece and the UK where taxation is concerned, I'd say we can't be going the same way as Greece, but it's possible we'll end up in the same place...

[The Masked Tulip]

Is anyone watching this with as much amazement as I am?

Some chap called James Meadway is arguing that Britain is going the same way as Greece by slashing public sector spending. He doesn't seem to accept the notion that Greece's woes were caused by too much spending and not enough taxation

Do folks on this form agree with this ideology?

Was he the guy with the beard?

I didn't think he looked old enough to have been in the work-force in the early 1990's recession let alone the hell of the 1980s - this is no-where as bad as the 1980s yet - or the 1970s.

I am sorry, he may or may not be considered a bright economics spark in certain circles - I assume Labour circles? - but I was personally underimpressed. I thought the City AM guy wiped the floor with him. Will he be a Labour Cabinet Minister in 10 years? Is he a Labour guy?

I think he needs to actually go and experience a real recession - i.e. be fecking unemployed for years on end - and then, perhaps, he will change his tune? Perhaps.

Every time I hear young guns in Labour sprout on about spending more money to get us out of this mess, when I personally believe it will make things worse, I can't help but feel that Ed Balls is gathering a gang of loyal supporters around him much in the same way that Brown, allegedly, drew the likes of Balls and others around him. Do you want to be in my gang?

I await the day when Ed Balls, IMPO, will go after Miliband's job.

[bmf]

Is anyone watching this with as much amazement as I am?

Some chap called James Meadway is arguing that Britain is going the same way as Greece by slashing public sector spending. He doesn't seem to accept the notion that Greece's woes were caused by too much spending and not enough taxation

Do folks on this form agree with this ideology?

Came across as a typical leftie. Never let the facts get in the way of "the right thing to do".

IMHO Alistair Heath is well worth a listen. I subscribe to his comment "blog" on cityam.

The most interesting thing about that episode was the first report. Good to hear someone highlighting the lack of difference between mainstream political parties.

[Game_Over]

Came across as a typical leftie. Never let the facts get in the way of "the right thing to do".

IMHO Alistair Heath is well worth a listen. I subscribe to his comment "blog" on cityam.

The most interesting thing about that episode was the first report. Good to hear someone highlighting the lack of difference between mainstream political parties.

I am reliably informed by other posters here that there is no such thing as left or right

Well there clearly is - because I just watched a raving left wing loony in full flow.

Apparently everyone knows that the way out of a debt crisis is to increase debt

And Greece is bankrupt because the government didn't borrow and spend enough money to create growth in the economy

[Chuffy Chuffnell]

Well there clearly is - because I just watched a raving left wing loony in full flow.

[leicestersq]

I am reliably informed by other posters here that there is no such thing as left or right

Well there clearly is - because I just watched a raving left wing loony in full flow.

Apparently everyone knows that the way out of a debt crisis is to increase debt

And Greece is bankrupt because the government didn't borrow and spend enough money to create growth in the economy

Glad I went to the pub.

If you cut spending by a percentage, national income will fall, but by a smaller percentage. So to eradicate a ten percent deficit, you need to cut by more than ten percent. I reckon we need to take out about 35 percent of state spending to balance the books, then another similar amount to allow taxes to be reduced so the private sector can grow again.

[Si1]

Was he the guy with the beard?

I didn't think he looked old enough to have been in the work-force in the early 1990's recession let alone the hell of the 1980s - this is no-where as bad as the 1980s yet - or the 1970s.

I am sorry, he may or may not be considered a bright economics spark in certain circles - I assume Labour circles? - but I was personally underimpressed. I thought the City AM guy wiped the floor with him. Will he be a Labour Cabinet Minister in 10 years? Is he a Labour guy?

He has a first in economics and economic history from the London School of Economics, an MSc in economics from Birkbeck College, and is currently working on a PhD on financial markets at the School of Oriental and African Studies.

[billybong]

On the radio news a few days ago they were saying that the current "government" was going to increase the UK's debt by about 50% in the next few years. From memory they said it was going to increase from about £800 billion to about £1.4 trillion - yes I know that sounds a lot more than just 50%.

The point they were making was how on earth does that fit in with the policy line of austerity - the policy on which they were elected.

Can't say that there's that much between the main parties apart from a lot of hot air and misleading posturing.

[Si1]

On the radio news a few days ago they were saying that the current "government" was going to increase the UK's debt by about 50% in the next few years. From memory they said it was going to increase from about £800 billion to about £1.4 trillion - yes I know that sounds a lot more than just 50%.

The point they were making was how on earth does that fit in with the policy line of austerity - the policy on which they were elected.

Can't say that there's that much between the main parties apart from a lot of hot air and misleading posturing.

that much has been clear to anyone reading the details of the news for the past few years, and comes down to the fact that it is impossible to immediately slash a 12% deficit without very nasty knock-on effects.

[JustYield]

The most interesting thing about that episode was the first report.

Have to disagree with you there, the most interesting thing was Emily's nipples. What was going on there?! Still on iPlayer...

[Tankus]

Have to disagree with you there, the most interesting thing was Emily's nipples. What was going on there?! Still on iPlayer...

BBc cuts and green policy an' that ....... reduced studio heating . perhaps... I'm sure they were getting bigger as the interview went on ...hot air notwithstanding