James Purnell has a very interesting and worthwhile piece about the future of Labour politics in The Guardian today. However I can't help but highlight the following turn of phrase, because it made me laugh:
I argued in cabinet that we needed to talk about cuts. It was clear that some cuts would be needed, because the economy was smaller than everyone had previously thought.
There's something delightfully Yes Ministerish about that.
"What do you mean there's no money, Humphrey?"
"It appears that the economy is smaller than we thought, Minister."
Maybe being in charge of the economy is like having a bank account. You keep on blithely drawing out cash. Then one day you bother to check your balance, and suddenly it's "Oh bugger!"
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