Labour Hid ‘Scorched Earth’ Debts

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7127819.ece

Bestards!

[Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz]

One former Labour minister told The Sunday Times: There was collusion between ministers and civil servants to get as many contracts signed off as possible before the election was called.

One former adviser to the schools department said there was a deliberate policy of scorched earth. The atmosphere was pull up all the railways, burn the grain stores, leave nothing for the Tories, he added.

Vince Cable, the business secretary, said: “...The skeletons are starting to fall out of the cupboard.”

The new cabinet has been discovering previously unknown contracts and uncosted spending commitments left by their spendthrift predecessors.

David Willetts, the universities minister, claimed that Labour had left behind “not so much an in-tray as a minefield”.

Edited May 15, 2010 by gruffydd

[Guest tbatst2000]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7127819.ece

Vince Cable, the business secretary, said: “I fear that a lot of bad news about the public finances has been hidden and stored up for the new government. The skeletons are starting to fall out of the cupboard.”

David Willetts, the universities minister, claimed that Labour had left behind “not so much an in-tray as a minefield”.

One former Labour minister told The Sunday Times: “There was collusion between ministers and civil servants to get as many contracts signed off as possible before the election was called.”

No surprises here then, this is pretty much what everyone was predicting would happen. There's serious cuts coming real soon now, how long before the riots start?

[OnlyMe]

Is this some sort of surprise to Cable?

Been talking about it ages on here, what of his wanting a coalition with Labour, only have half your head stuck up your **** and you are an economic leading light so it seems.

[Wahoo]

A nice bit of spin, to soften us up, for the train crash approaching.

[cashinmattress]

I reckon we've got until the first PMQ's for Dave/Nick to pass the buck on the finances onto Gordo's retreating fatbody.

Then the buck stops at Number 10 once again.

Politics have never been more interesting in Britain. It's going to be a satirists dream come true.

[South Lorne]

A nice bit of spin, to soften us up, for the train crash approaching.

...no spin here ....there should be an open investigation to see if fraud involved....which contracts were rushed ...whose connections ...who benefited ....there's always a story behind the numbers.....

[Guest sillybear2]

It's all gonna go a bit Greek, isn't it?

One former Labour minister told The Sunday Times: “There was collusion between ministers and civil servants to get as many contracts signed off as possible before the election was called.”

Those civil servants should be tried for fraud or high treason. I always knew after 13 years Labour would have positioned sympathizers and patsies into key positions, it looks like the senior ranks of the civil service need disinfecting first. We really are ruled by poisonous little cretins, I bet many are still answering to people like Mandleson behind everyone's back.

Edited May 15, 2010 by sillybear2

[South Lorne]

It's all gonna go a bit Greek, isn't it?

One former Labour minister told The Sunday Times: “There was collusion between ministers and civil servants to get as many contracts signed off as possible before the election was called.”

Those civil servants should be tried for fraud or high treason. I always knew after 13 years Labour would have positioned sympathizers and patsies into key positions, it looks like the senior ranks of the civil service need disinfecting first. We really are ruled by poisonous little cretins, I bet many are still answering to people like Mandleson behind everyone's back.

...regime change should include top Civil Servants....the should at least have a three month screening session ....

[South Lorne]

...this is 3rd thread.....why was this not on the BBC and SKY News Sunday Papers reviews...?.

[South Lorne]

A £600m computer contract for the new personal pensions account scheme rushed through by Labour this year, which will still cost at least £25m even if it is cancelled.

...who is benefiting here ....who signed the contract ...to whom ...are there political connections ....were the contracts handed out on a fair bidding system .....?.....this needs investigation......

[Guest sillybear2]

...regime change should include top Civil Servants....the should at least have a three month screening session ....

Each and everyone of those uncivil self-servants should be dragged before a commons committee and be made to explain their actions in the run up to this election. This is exactly what Stephen "cab for hire" Byers was talking about, he said during the 'dead' period you can bilk the government into signing dodgy contracts and lean on crooked permanent secretaries. In any other area of business this is called corruption and fraud.

A good way of focusing minds is to change the law so the 'Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme' itself becomes the backstop for the deficit, so any entitlements and pay increases are frozen in time until the government runs a budget surplus. If they're going to wield the axe they should at the very least set a good example. This should become an automatic stabilizer, for every 1% in deficit there should be 5% pay cuts until it balances again, this would cut typical £140k salaries down to a more reasonable £56k.

Edited May 16, 2010 by sillybear2

[South Lorne]

Each and everyone of those uncivil self-servants should be dragged before a commons committee and be made to explain their actions in the run up to this election. This is exactly what Stephen "cab for hire" Byers was talking about, he said during the 'dead' period you can bilk the government into signing dodgy contracts and lean on crooked permanent secretaries. In any other area of business this is called corruption and fraud.

A good way of focusing minds is to change the law so the 'Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme' itself becomes the backstop for the deficit, so any entitlements and pay increases are frozen in time until the government runs a budget surplus. If they're going to wield the axe they should at the very least set a good example. This should become an automatic stabilizer, for every 1% in deficit there should be 5% pay cuts until it balances again, this would cut typical £140k salaries down to a more reasonable £56k.

...SFO followed by the Tower ...this could be real treason if what is reported is true...could be much bigger than the expenses scandal ...

[Guest sillybear2]

...SFO followed by the Tower ...this could be real treason if what is reported is true...could be much bigger than the expenses scandal ...

They need to change the law so any impropriety results in instant dismissal without any pay offs or inclusion of previously built up "entitlements", part of the reason we see endemic corruption in the public sector and various contracts is the fact they're untouchable, they cannot be sacked, just moved sideways. It really is one big pi$$ up with somebody elses' money. How they must laugh when some hapless or conniving minister puts pen to paper.

As we know from the behaviour of MP's we can no longer rely on "honourable" self regulating behaviour of gentlemen, these people are now perfectly willing to self-detonate government finances as they would a bank. As important as the expenses scandal was in exposing the corrupt mindset of the ruling elite, these government contracts are another thing entirely, look at the sums involved, scamming a £600 TV out the tax payer is one thing, signing off on a crooked £600 million computer contract is on another level entirely.

[aussieboy]

A nice bit of spin, to soften us up, for the train crash approaching.

+1

[Guest sillybear2]

+1

Lets face it, the government's books are just another Enron or Lehman, but they just rely on the immortality of the state and its ability to thieve at will in order to keep the wheels turning.

[South Lorne]

+1

...don't believe the leftie ostriches....

['Bart']

Is this some sort of surprise to Cable?

He may be feigning surprise in order to milk the story a bit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIX_0nMlIBU

In theory (not accounting for the goldfish-like memory of the average British idiot member of the public) a story like this should help justify the coming financial pain. It won't though, as the average British idiot member of the public is pretty clueless all round.

A nice bit of spin, to soften us up, for the train crash approaching.

A more succinct summing up than my waffle above.

just seen the others,do HPCers ever sleep?

This site is like New York, it never sleeps.

Flatlines every now and again, but never sleeps.

[Woot]

I reckon we've got until the first PMQ's for Dave/Nick to pass the buck on the finances onto Gordo's retreating fatbody.

Then the buck stops at Number 10 once again.

Politics have never been more interesting in Britain. It's going to be a satirists dream come true.

Has there been any more word on them calling in the IMF? Surely it would make sense on one level to draw a line in the sand (and openly apportion blame!) before embarking on the significant cuts; although I realize it may cause alarm in some quarters.

[aussieboy]

...don't believe the leftie ostriches....

or the right wing vultures?

[Guest sillybear2]

A nice bit of spin, to soften us up, for the train crash approaching.

Most of the public are so thick they can't see it coming.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tP9_SZ5Hho

Edited May 16, 2010 by sillybear2

[South Lorne]

or the right wing vultures?

...vultures clean up the mess ....dead on ....agreed ....

[acidreign]

Surely there are some Telegraph journos lurking on this site.

Has to be worthy of a few lines at least, eh?!

[stormymonday_2011]

Has there been any more word on them calling in the IMF? Surely it would make sense on one level to draw a line in the sand (and openly apportion blame!) before embarking on the significant cuts; although I realize it may cause alarm in some quarters.

Bit of an understatement

It would be read by the markets as admission that the new government is out of its depth (which is probably true).

[Guest sillybear2]

Surely there are some Telegraph journos lurking on this site.

Has to be worthy of a few lines at least, eh?!

When bankrupt talk bull$hit :-

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/andrew-gilligan/7728278/Leaked-memo-reveals-what-Whitehall-really-thinks-of-its-new-masters.html

"There may be challenge over our part in what they see as failed policies/ delivery."

Challenged? They should be thrown out the f****g door, hopefully forgetting to open it first.

Edited May 16, 2010 by sillybear2