The Darling Buds of May?

The economic news for the month of May looks modestly encouraging – we certainly needed something to cheer us up both weather-wise and economy-wise.
It is to be hoped that these modest improvements will continue. I use the word ‘hope’ because there is no guarantee of continuing pick-up and of course nothing by way of Government policy to ensure this.
But doesn’t it mean that Mr Osborne’s austerity policies are working despite the discovery that their academic underpinning was shown to be riddled with errors? Not a bit of it – the improvement comes despite the Government’s policies – there can be no positive correlation assumed.
Back in the 18th century some of the sick people who were bled and had leeches applied did in fact get better. It’s much the same with our economy today – and there are more rounds of cuts to come both in the near future and for 2015/16. Talk about nipping things in the bud!
We shall be hearing more news of the government’s next round of cutbacks in Mr Osborne’s upcoming spending review. One thing we can be sure about is that the rich will not be hammered and the ever-increasing inequality in wealth and incomes will continue.
So it was doubly depressing to hear the Shadow Chancellor bind himself to the coalition’s austere plans for 2015/16. Why are parties these days so frit to be different? Where’s the vision and inspiration? Look what the Atlee government achieved against a far worse background. And thinking of the NHS, thank goodness for it and stop the constant messing about and the cuts by another name. And let’s see a bit of nurturing for those darling buds!