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Thanks a lot, Darling
So what can we look forward to in the budget on Wednesday? More of the same, or an admission that we really are in the worst financial state as a country since the second world war?
The usual few pence on a pint and a gallon of petrol will be the small news this time round. What we really need to know is will Alistair Darling curb some of the outrageous levels of expenditure in the public sector? We can only hope so.
No-one seriously believes anymore that every penny is well spent - there are enormous efficiencies that could be made to get the overall level of spending down.
You cannot continually go on suppressing the creativity that generates trade (and therefore taxable income) in the private sector whilst continually enlarging the size of the state that is paid for by that taxation. If you keep doing that, eventually the house of cards will come crashing down.
A lower tax regime would mean a new incentive for business to continually reinvest, and develop the economy - that's good for everyone. Had this happened over the last few years we may well have not been in the position we're in now.
However, the chances of tax benefits are so far off the agenda at the moment that we will have to make do with a bruised and over taxed business sector, and a bloated private sector. This situation must be rebalanced before our economy will recover and we can once again generate real genuine jobs with real value.
I hope the Chancellor deals with this issue as one of long term importance on Wednesday rather than any short term gimmick designed for the Government benefit in the last budget before a general election.
Bournemouth as a Eurozone: have they lost the plot or is this a stroke of genius?
Bournemouth has decided to accept Euros in many of their hotels, shops and council venues. In a press release their Tourism chief, Mark Smith, an excellent man who learnt his trade here in Eastbourne, said it would make 'summertime living even easier'. Well maybe so, but they seem to think that because more people are holidaying at home at the moment, there will be more spare Euros that can't be spent.
But if people aren't going abroad, why will they have stacks of Euros? I don't think the odd few Euros people might have in their wallet or in the sock drawer from last summer will make much difference.
Surely the bigger opportunity is the premise of the situation, that more people are holidaying in the UK than abroad. Therefore they should be pushing their town as the best place for people to visit for their holiday this year. That's certainly the angle I'd be taking, and I hope that's not been overlooked by Eastbourne's own tourism dept.
Bournemouth has said that this is a back-up plan in case "recovery does not come in time for the peak summer season". Well that's a dead cert! Far better to accept that now, plan for it and play to your strengths as a resort than to mess about with gimmicks designed for little more than a one off story in the national press.
By the way, two more things - do have a look at the Eastbourne Festival Website - there's some great stuff happening. www.eastbournefestival.co.uk
And my mate reckons Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary will resign on Wednesday. Presumably so the story can be swallowed by the budget. Personally, I hope he's right, but I doubt it. I reckon she'll hang on as long as she can.
Have a great week friends!
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Weather for Eastbourne
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -6 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
