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Tories have no economic experience or judgment, says Alistair Darling
12 Feb 2010Alistair Darling warned today that an age of “low growth and austerity” lies ahead if the Conservatives win power.
The Chancellor said David Cameron and George Osborne lacked the experience and judgment necessary to steer the economy back to health.
Mr Darling, who will outline further economic measures in a speech in Edinburgh today, said the Conservative leader and shadow chancellor had “no plan they are willing to share”.
He referred to his moves to nationalise Northern Rock and create capital for the nation's banks: “I have had to take the hardest decisions of my political life in the last two years.
“In the last two years, experience and judgment have mattered. David Cameron and George Osborne have shown little evidence of either.”
Mr Darling cited the pledge by Philip Hammond, shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, to make £1.5 billion of cuts if the party comes to power as proof that the Opposition's figures do not “add up”.
He said: “We have a clear plan to halve the deficit in four years. As I speak they appear to have no plan. Or no plan they are willing to share.
“We should know how they intend to reduce the deficit. In how many years? How much would they spend next year to support the economy and have they any plan for growth?”
The Chancellor said of the forthcoming election: “The choice we make will shape this country for the next 20 years and genuine choices between a Labour Government encouraging growth and prosperity, and David Cameron's low ambition, low growth age of austerity.”
Mr Darling will announce measures at an economic recovery and growth conference to promote hi-tech business start-ups and stress the need to ensure safe energy supplies, including in renewable and nuclear energy.
A new body, Infrastructure UK, will report to him at the Budget with a strategy for the country's infrastructure.
“To be effective we needed to work closely with other countries and we did,” he will say.
“We stabilised the banks to stop the complete collapse of the economy, we helped people get back into work if they lost their jobs, we helped people in difficulty stay in their homes.
“From the Shetlands to Lands End our approach is working. And while there is still much to do, I am confident we will lock in economic recovery.”
Reader views (45)
What the conservatives have got however is Kenneth Clarke. A reasonably experienced chancellor I believe.
- Tony, wallsend, 15/02/2010 01:09
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The UK is in a worse position compared to when Labour took power in 1997. More unemployment,students paying University fees while University funding is cut, roads not being fixed and immigration out of control. Above all a massive State Debt (Treasury not being honest about the real levels). A serious failure in UK Financial Service Regulation giving us RBS, HBOS and Northern Rock. The man who has the experience and wisdom is Dr Vincent Cable MP. I believe the Liberals will get a larger popular vote than Labour.
- Andrew, London, 14/02/2010 11:41
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How could he make a silly statement like this after he busted the country.?
- Stan White, leeds, 14/02/2010 07:01
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Fancy Darling say that everything Osborne has said so far has been proved correct even when he has been villified by Labour and Labour loving people. Cameron has a first class degree in economic Darling has not he is supposed to be a lawyer. Brown does not know economics if he did we would not be in this mess we all know there has been a worldwide recession but not all countries have been affected in the same way it is only because the likes of Brown Mandelson etc decided globelization and life the regulations in other countries that all this has happened. also Maggie Thatcher did not ruin manufacting in a white paper it has been found that we have lost more manufacturing under Labour than at any one time Labour is hopeless think about 1978 and what happened in the seventies
- Tilly Williams, peterborough uk, 13/02/2010 16:50
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As I read many of the readers comments on the many politically related newspaper articles. I wonder just how many of these opinions are contributed by people at work and in the employment of the government of the UK. I also give credit to the many well thought out and written pieces.
- Thomas, Edinburgh, 13/02/2010 05:10
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Nu-Labour has no work ethic either Mr Trotsky Darling!
- Mike, London, 13/02/2010 05:01
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Pot and kettle spring to mind. The UK is almost bust due to excessive spending since '97 on pretty much everything - and its still ongoing. The Brown/Darling era has ruined what 'was' a strong economy and it wouldnt take much from leftfield to leave us where Greece is now. They are deluded and the sooner competency replaces the incompetency the better.
- Matthew, London, 12/02/2010 19:43
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Tories have no economic experience or judgment, says Alistair Darling'
Neither do Labour.
- Conservationchris, Knutsford ENGLAND, 12/02/2010 19:18
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Does the UK have another Margaret Thatcher - please someone find her - or a male the same as she was when she was Prime Minister?
- Elizabeth Taylor, Dallas, TX, 12/02/2010 19:15
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First you have Alaister Campbell accusing the British people of not wanting to know the TRUTH. Thats right, from no other than the liar himself.
Now we have Alaister Darling talking about economic experience and judgement. Since when did he work for a bank, a manufacturer, or any business?
The fact Asia took exactly the opposite actions in 1997 when the entire region plunged into economic crisis because of overspending. They let the banks and businesses fail, cut spending, balanced the budgets, and after 3 years they were growing. Now they have the strong eocnomies.
Go eat your heart out, Darling
- Jimbobfr, paris, 12/02/2010 18:46
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#David Low
If you read what I said you will know that I did not say Gordon Brown had a degree in Economics. In fact his First Class Honours Degree, followed by an MA, was in History. He also has a Doctorate (PhD), so his actual title is Dr James Gordon Brown. If you were to read his bio you would see that although he lectured in Politics and History at the Glasgow College of Technology, he also lecured in Economics for a period. For your further enlightenment on Mr Brown's achievements, he was fast tracked to Uni at 16 so he was not exactly educationally illiterate, was he? He was also appointed Rector of Edinburgh University, no mean feat. He was named World Statesman of the Year in March 2009 for the major role he played to stabilise the world's financial systems. Some accolade don't you think?
George Osborne - Second Class Degree in Modern History. First Job: Data Input of patients details for the NHS. 2nd Job: MP. Achievements: Third choice as assistant to Michael Howard, after William Hague and David Cameron had turned down the job. Proof positive that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. No wonder the City is nervous of him ever becoming Chancellor.
David Cameron's claim to fame: Personal Financial Adviser to Norman Lamont on Black Wednesday, the ERM debacle, for those who have forgotten it.
I rest my case.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 12/02/2010 17:42
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The Conservatives said the same about Liebour and it didn't work then and it won't work now.
Brian G has it right - Labour will cut over 3 years which means bigger cuts over a shorter time and the structural deficit will have grown exponentially.
- Ian L, Bangor UK, 12/02/2010 17:35
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Oh dear Adam, London. It always comes out when the left talks. “Thatcher destroyed the working man’s jobs”. It is just historically inaccurate. The two previous Labour administrations were at fault through a series of ineffectual policies and being utterly in the thrall of the vicious power-crazy and destructive 1970s trades unions. Thatcher inherited a decimated and destroyed economy that had to be put under the auspices of the IMF when the then Labour government completely failed to adapt to what they had to do. Thatcher corrected the many years of stupidity (which was admittedly very painful) but created the knowledge economy that grew in the late 80 and 90s providing sustainable jobs for most people. This is hard for the lefty to accept but it is true. The next government will again inherit a Labour- triggered failure again. The global problems are only a part of the UK difficulties – it is indisputable (except by those whose only information is heartfelt rhetoric but void of hard facts) that Gordon Brown is culpable for an even bigger part of our problems.
- John Davie, St Albans, 12/02/2010 17:35
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The problem is excessive spending by government with tons of unproductive dead wood in the civil service. Just freeze public sector hiring for 5 years and watch the cost drop like a stone!
- James Macleod Ritchie, Oyster Bay Cove, 12/02/2010 16:33
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..."and Labour have no credibility"
- Amoreno, luxembourg, 12/02/2010 15:56
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The facts speak for themselves.
We were at the precipe and the Tories were clueless, now the stratery is cut everything, just to be different? If they cut as they say then we can welcome back the riots and permanent unemployment for millions and communities choked out of existance under the glorious Thatcher years.
Unless I'm mistaken this has been a worldwide recession - Greece Ireland Spain etc.
And our ability to fight back was structurally altered when the manufacturing infastructure was decimated under you know who - any excuses?
- Adam, London, 12/02/2010 15:27
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@ Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain
I think the negative comments instigated this news item and thus shows who is running scared.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/02/2010 15:00
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It is also obvious that Darling has no economic experience or judgment. What else would you expect from a small-town solicitor who probably has a problem calculating a completion statement for the sale of a croft?
- Roger, winchester, england, 12/02/2010 14:47
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Well said, Bernard from Gibraltar
- Dominique, london, 12/02/2010 13:47
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If my memory serves me correct was A. Darling the transport minister at one time, and could not even drive a car.
- Leonard Lillywhites, Tottenham, 12/02/2010 13:33
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Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain - You need to spend more time in the UK to see the damage these Labour clowns have done.
By the way, how is the pound vs the Euro these days, after the clowing around of the last 12 years? It should be apparent to you.
- Abominable Snow Man, London, 12/02/2010 12:40
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Labour are in Gods waiting room waiting to be called sometime before June,it will be a relief not seeing 'thunderbird' Darling in the papers everyday and reading his pathetic utterances...I wonder what will become of his eyebrows..I hope they go to a good home!!.
- Jacob, Labour killed politics EUSSR, 12/02/2010 12:39
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They have no economic esprience, really Alistair? I do beleive Ken Clark left the British economy in a very good state before Labour got their hands on it. Now look at the state it's in. PS FYI You'll find the same Ken Clark in the Cabinet today.
- Dominique, london, 12/02/2010 12:36
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What experience had Darling before being made Chancellor ? -None . Brown before being made Chancellor? -None. Our current financial plight is testament to their inxperience over the last 13 years. Osborne may have no experience but he has Ken Clarke right bside him and he was a Very good chancellor and left the financial position of the country in excellent order( Only for Brown to wreck it). Lets have an election now.
- Noah Moore, London, 12/02/2010 12:12
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Sadly this lot have been doing this for thirteen years and they still don't have a clue.
- Chris, Woking. UK, 12/02/2010 12:06
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The whole "experience" label that Labour believes is the Tories' heel is wearing a bit thin.
If experience means that you run a perfectly good economy into the ground, costing the taxpayers £178bn, then it's an experience I can live without.
If experience means that you allow personal debt and banking risk to spiral uncontrollably, that is also a thrill I will pass on.
My experience of the past 13 years is that Labour have taxed the working classes at the expense of the benefits-seeking, Trisha-watching layabouts who contribute little to society.
I would appreciate a better experience than that.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 12/02/2010 11:49
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TO: VAL DANIELS,MIJAS COSTA, SPAIN.
Get your facts right! McBroon's degree was in History (Edinburgh Univ). He lectured for a time, but not in Economics. Neither he nor Blair have ever had "real-world" jobs - entire lives cocooned in the political bubble where they honed their skills in duplicity, mendacity and back-stabbing. What wonderful role models they are for the next generation!
Look at Blair now - massively wealthly, still as slippery as ever. Supposedly the "peace-maker" for the Israel-Palestine mess, yet not one Palestinian has ever set eyes on Bliar.
McBroon once famously said that he would never involve his children in politics. Just look at the hypocrite now. A despicable snake-oil salesman. But then he is in good company: Mandelslime, Burnham, Ainsworth(less), Harpieperson, etc etc
- David Low, Cirencester, UK, 12/02/2010 11:45
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When I first read this, I thought Darling was referring to himself... bit rich coming from the who presides over a wrecked economy, massive unemployment and job instability caused by his government's policies.
- Matt, Ruthin, 12/02/2010 11:42
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Val Daniels; there is not much point in announcing policies until an election has been called. I may be hard of hearing but I'm sure I would have heard that call! Tony Blair "had" a brain - really? No real evidence of that. As for Gordon Brown lecturing in Economics; if you have ever been to an Economics lecture you would know how far removed from reality the theory of economics actually is.
- Dannyp, Egham, 12/02/2010 11:27
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If by experience you mean squandering the proceeds of the world's longest and largest economic boom for no discernable result, burdening generations to come with debt, broadening taxes more than any peacetime government and allowing the tax base to narrow then that can only be a good thing can't it? You wouldn't employ a shopaholic as your personal financial advisor would you?
- Mark, London, 12/02/2010 11:23
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Val, so you really do work for Labour HQ, are you really Peter Mandelson? Brown obtained a degree in History and his PHD was "The Labour Party and Political Change in Scotland 1918-29". He has not lectured in Economics either, and frankly knows nothing about it. He has never held a proper job, and it shows.
He is old style tax, waste and spend which is why we are in the mess we are in. Incidentally, I don`t think that the Labour cuts are clear either, next year 20% of our taxes will go towards debt repayment, rather than services and I don`t see that changing with what is on offer.
- Nickspurs, London, 12/02/2010 11:20
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Who sold our gold reserves for a quarter of what they are worth today. Who gave us the biggest National Debt in our history rising by hundreds of thousands of pounds in the time taken to type this. A debt problem that our grandchildren's children will inherit. Who has given us three million unemployed. Who should remain very quite and creep away when yo think Labour presided over the gap between the rich and poor growing wider and doubled taxation on our those with the lowest wages from 10% t0 20%. .
- Alan,, England. The forgotten country., 12/02/2010 11:18
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Assume a lack of experience: by that token, we'd have no need for an election as the opposition parties would never gain the experience necessary to govern.
What utter rubbish and more to the point, where has experience got us with New Labore?
- Mr Mephistopheles, London, 12/02/2010 10:59
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It is obvious from these negative comments that the Conservatives are running scared. Even the Tory supporters who post on here cannot point to any policies, they are merely acting as apologists for the lack of a coherent Conservative economic programme. There is a solid difference between the position in 1997 and that pertaining today; Tony Blair had a brain, and Gordon Brown had a First Class Honours degree and lectured in Economics. David Cameron was a PR lacky in television, and George Osborne made the tea at CCHQ. Says it all really.
- Val Daniels, Mijas Costa, Spain, 12/02/2010 10:59
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And the economic experience that Labour have had has led us to the greatest debt ever in the history of this nation.
A broken economy, society and public finance. Get out of office, the damage is done. Congratulations you have managed to do what your brothers in Russia couldn't, you destroyed Britain.
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 12/02/2010 10:55
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"Low growth and austerity"????? That actually sounds pretty good compared to bankruptcy! With the vast sums Labour have (and will continue to) borrow, as interest rates rise we will be paying our taxes just to pay interest on the debt (to banks!!) rather than for services. This government is unbelievable, they are effectively proposing to carry on as if nothing has happened by running up the national credit card bill. As we all know you can have a great lifestyle on credit for a while but eventually you go bust!
- Simon, London, 12/02/2010 10:53
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Go to sleep, Darling.
- Londoner, London, 12/02/2010 10:36
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"The Chancellor said David Cameron and George Osborne lacked the experience and judgment necessary to steer the economy back to health."
The conservatives used to say that about Labour but in their case it was correct.
- Bj, East London, 12/02/2010 10:28
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Mr Darling an economic genius no !! a failed Edinburgh solicitor who could not hack it in the leagal profession so became a politician. Just like Tony Blair also schooled in Edinburgh. Gordon Brown also trained in Edinburgh now we are beginning to see a trend !!!
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 12/02/2010 10:19
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"We have a clear plan to halve the deficit in four years".
In 4 years time, instead of borrowing £180bn a year, lieboor we will be borrowing £90bn. What about paying some of the money we have borrowed back? The interest payments on our borrowed money are already running at £50bn a year and will increase should interest rates rise.
- Chris, Rochester, 12/02/2010 10:04
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John Davie, you forgot to mention that there was no deficit when Labour gained power. Look at us now...
- Dannyp, Egham, 12/02/2010 09:57
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I'd like a bit of low growth, damn site better than what we've had for the past 13 wasted years. 13 years of Labour misrule. And the people still vote them in!
OK, I admit Alistair's approach may be working in Land's End and the Shetlands but I'm not aware of it working anywhere else. But he lives on a different planet to me.
- Stephen C, London, 12/02/2010 09:53
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Unbelievable! When Labour came to power they had been away from office for 18 years. What experience did they have? They inherited a strong economy with the public finances in good order. As far as I know Blair, Brown etc had no business previous experience, not even of running a whelk stall let alone an economy. Give us a break.
- Bernard Hazell, Gibraltar, 12/02/2010 09:41
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Quote - "We have a clear plan to halve the deficit in four years"
Perhaps Alistair Darling would like to share the details with the rest of us then. If the 4 year period includes 2010/11 then he is set to achieve a great deal in the remaining 3 years as he has made it quite plain Labour don`t intend starting to cut the deficit until 2011. But then we don`t know how exactly how many billions of debt Darling is going to halve. Perhaps he would also like to tell us what that figure is. NuLabour have done nothing except to borrow and print money to keep the boat afloat until the election. That`s not being clever, that`s running the country into the ground for your own political ends.
- Brian G, Norfolk Gorleston, 12/02/2010 09:13
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What a load of old tosh. "Dear readers, I – Alastair Darling the Labour chancellor, like those of the previous four major Labour governments, have ruined your economy. I will blame the opposition for this and am pleased to be using treasury civil servants – at your expense – to rake around some figure for party political advantage, instead of using them to try to sort out the mess I am making.”.........”and please remember that Tony came into power without any declared policy on anything at all......of course the Tories should not do that as it is unfair to us.”
- John Davie, St Albans, 12/02/2010 08:21
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