Lord Young's comments were offensive so he had to resign. That's what everyone on both sides of the Chamber say and that's why he went ahead and resigned. If anyone in a position like his was to say something that belittled the recession and the effects it's having on people then they should do the right thing and fall on their sword. Yes?
Well clearly no, it actually depends on who you are and whose experience you are belittling. You see back in Gordon Brown's "government of all the talents" days he appointed the first enterprise tzar / advisor in the form of Everyone's favourite "businessman" Alan Sugar.
A few days into the job he was approached by a BBC journalist and asked what could be done to help businesses in that area to get out of the recession. His response? Well the clip that was played every week on Have I Got News for You said it all, "for f**ks sake" he said as he stormed off, before coming back and delivering this:
"Can't we get off this recession kick once and for all? I don't think we're in one now, ok?"
"I can honestly say a lot of problems you hear from people who are moaning are from companies I would not lend a penny to.
"They are bust. The moaners are bust. They are bust and they don't need the bank - they need an insolvency practitioner."
First off we were very much still in recession then, secondly what he said was offensive, very offensive in fact to those businesses that were struggling to raise finance to trade and improve their situation.
Was he sacked or forced to resign though? In short, no. Labour said nothing, and the Conservatives and Lib Dems were more worried about his BBC TV show and if it was right to be in government. Why? Because it's seemingly fine to say something offensive as a government advisor if you're 1) a bit of a cheeky chappy and a no nonsense sort and 2) if you're being offensive about business people. If you wear a bow tie and offend the "everyday" man though then off you go. Those business people are made of sterner stuff after all.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
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I rather hoped this government would see the back of knee-jerk media-driven resignations. But with Young and Law both exiting for reasons unrelated to their ability to do their work, it looks as if the same rules are still in play
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