Spin the wheel boys

So, ladies and gentlemen, it's been a busy time politically, and I think it's because bets that were placed after the election results are starting to play out. Yes - I said bets.  Let me explain.

No one expected the Lib Dems and the Conservatives to form a coalition - they had way too many fundamental differences - but they did. Whatever you may feel about their leaders, members or policies, you have to have some respect for the fact that they decided to put the country's economic problems before party politics. But this was the key: the economy. The coalition will live or die based on economic success, and this is the gamble. Imagine you're in a casino and go to the roulette table. Standing there are David Cameron and Nick Clegg. They both reach into their pockets and pull out an envelope; inside are their parties' hopes at the next general election, and they put it all on black.

This seemed like a huge gamble - they could do anything and none of it would matter with the Euro zone economy also in the casino, throwing all the money in the slot machine with Van Rompey sitting there, crying into his massive coin cup, with only half a dozen coins in the bottom and his German loan shark ready to break his legs. But bet they did, and from the start things were not looking good. Opposite Nick and Dave on the table was Ed Miliband. He turned up late with a huge stack of chips from his comrades in the Unions. He was a ruthless gambler, leaving his brother in the gutter on his way to the high rollers' table. He placed everything on red, on the economic plans of the coalition failing miserably. During this early time the ball bounced around but never went near black. Ed got excited - he would taunt the hapless Nick and Dave opposite him. Inflation up, GDP down, the weight of the bet weighing upon them. But, things changed...

Ed had to change taunts, picking on one of Dave's minders for saying a naughty word (can you fu**ing believe it?), picking on Dave's accountant over a problem with a ticket (forgetting that he paid the fine) and inciting class warfare. Ed has fewer millions than Dave, and that practically means he was a chimney-sweep boy. Ed was scared. The ball had started to bounce around on black: GDP up, inflation down, unemployment down. Ed is now starting to sweat - he needs the economy to fail so he can win, and it's better to discredit the men placing the bets opposite him so that even if the ball lands on black, people will think they cheated or something.

So the table is starting to slow its spin, any jolt will change the result, and Ed looks ill. His taunts are landing but he knows none of it matters if black comes in. Dave and Nick are starting to relax and for the first time in two years are feeling lucky. Where is your money?

Robert

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Red Ed Rides Again

Following Ed Miliband's speech at the Labour Party conference last week, many journalists were pointing to the fact that he was making a grab for the centre vote, following in the footsteps of Tony Blair.  He was careful during his speech to use the term “friends”; he also refrained from class demonisation and appeared to have made a complete u-turn on his previous speeches.

So who is Ed Miliband really trying to appease?  The Unions are high up on the list; since he became leader of the Labour party, 81% of their donations have come from unions.  When you look at this, the majority of union members are public employees, meaning the tax payer is actually funding the majority of the Labour party! Is Mr Miliband looking to appease his main contributors, then, in the shape of business and tax payers?  No - he is intent on rubbing their noses in it.  Whilst the private sector struggle in a tough economic climate, Mr Miliband believes that supporting a union led march against austerity is the way to go!

Why is this?  My belief is that Red Ed realises that without the current high number of public sector employees, Labour would need to seek funding from additional sources, and as private business are suffering as a direct result of the spend culture under the previous Labour administration, do you think any large business would stump up further funding for Labour?

Ed's speech in the party conference was very carefully written and choreographed.  However, only a couple of hours later, his true colours began to show when party delegates were referred to again as "comrades", unlike the term "friends" that was used previously.  So, Mr Miliband is truly madly and deeply Red Ed through and through.  Welcome to the return to the 70s, folks!

S

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