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Reducing civil servants and introducing 'regulatory budgets' is following the ideology of the limited state, which means less regulation and more market. But hilariously, he even gets it wrong anyway but setting up entirely abitrary limits. The idea that 'some' state is good, but 'too much' is bad, and that there is a definite dividing line between the two sets himself up to satisfy neither side.

Member of the Anti-Fabulousness League since 1987.
by Ephemera on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 11:51:04 AM EST
We certainly have too much State in the UK, and mostly the wrong sort, so getting rid of some of it wouldn't be bad.

But he's not going to be cutting jobs at the Treasury and making Treasury seat-fillers accountable.

So we'll probably see yet more spending on consultants who cost a fortune and whose answer to saving money is to offer yet more consultancy.

Brown's tragedy is that this heart is more or less in the right place, but he's completely lacking in either the vision or the charisma needed to create any positive changes which aren't trivial and superficial.

Savings schemes for low income earners is a good 'un. As prices on everything go up, there's going to be plenty of opportunity to use those to the full.  

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 11:56:26 AM EST
[ Parent ]
That's the thing, he's ignoring the debate about how big the state should be or what its functions are, and instead skips to 'results' of fewer civil servants and less regulation.

Member of the Anti-Fabulousness League since 1987.
by Ephemera on Wed May 14th, 2008 at 12:08:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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