Tax & Spend

It is being reported that in the first few weeks of government, Gordon Brown has announced a total of 40 government initiatives at a cost just shy of £40bn!  A pretty hefty sum in just a few weeks - confirming that his grip on government spending was tight even when Blair was in power given that he has so much to "spare" now.  It also goes to show what a meddling and micro managing PM he is going to be - just as he was as a chancellor. 

The break down of spend includes £400m of extra spending has been pledged for providing full grants to 50,000 extra students from families with incomes up to £25,000; £184m extra funds to improve youth facilities, including a youth club in every constituency; and £100m on school sports.  What about the £4bn extra spending on early year’s education over three years, covering Sure Start centres to 2010-11?  Something Wat Tyler had something to say about last year.  Good headline stuff - buying an early election victory by any chance Gordon?  Is this really how we could be most effectively spending £40bn?  Are there not better ways of sorting out the education system without throwing money at things that "sound" good?  It is worrying that the media and the electorate can be bought off with this misleading investment all in the name of the "Brown Bounce".  They forget we have to pick up the tab and are unlikely to see any real benefits.