Voice of Reason - Simon Baker
I wasn’t going to mention IC at all this week, preferring a side-swipe at Europe, but a few things cannot go unremarked. It was nice to see that my long-time sparring partner Ian Caldwell got his name in print (mind you, I’ve been helping there for years). I was delighted to hear that he is "quite interested in the design of buildings and how they used their space and dimensions." May I suggest a little less time in the Tate and a bit more in the BMS, along with your colleagues from Mary’s. Lots of space, not many uses. Speaking of buildings, my position on the Library closure has changed from indifference to anger. The first time in 12 months that I need to photocopy something there, and it’s closed. Though we all should have known that the no closure policy was as likely as the SCR getting three Michelin stars, it is a shambles. I have tracked down Schal’s fees to about Ł3million. Nice to know we’ve bought in real expertise.
As the European supply of spanners is gradually thrown into the EMU machine, it looks like one or two have really hit the target. It appears that Germany will not meet the Maastricht criteria on debt and deficit. This is because its attempts to cut the deficit are throwing people on the dole like nobody’s business, pushing up social security, reducing the tax receipts, increasing debt and, you’ve guessed it, the deficit. Welcome to Mickey Mouse economics, or as we are supposed to call it the ‘social model’. This is the example that people say Britain should follow.
Fortunately, we aren’t. As our unemployment falls, theirs rises. Our economy is growing, theirs is stagnating. German companies are investing heavily in Britain and even transferring here on account of the inflexible workforce and crippling employer costs in their native country. Our economy, described as the post-Thatcherite, post-ERM enterprise economy, is often labelled a sweat shop economy. We pay appaling wages to be competitive. All the new jobs created in the last five years aren’t proper full-time positions but low-skill, part-time work. Not the case, I’m glad to say. The percentage of the workforce in temporary employment is lower here than in either France, Germany or Spain. Average take home pay here is significantly higher here than in France or Spain and only Ł800 per year less than Germany. The reason is that taxes are significantly higher on the continent than here. Britain has been universally praised for the steps taken to re-structure our economy in the 80s. The rest of Europe has yet to do this, and seems more concerned with playing politics with people’s livelihoods in the name of federalism. We are best to avoid this like the plague. Let me say however, that before I give the government all the credit for this, it must be remembered that our recent economic success stems from the failure of our previous policy, namely membership of the ERM. Still, there is nothing wrong with serendipitous discoveries. And if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Oh and by the way, I read in IC Distorter that there are two Crown-appointed places on the Governing Body up for grabs, for which nominations are invited from staff and students. Lord Vincent, I know that you are an avid reader of my humble prose, and would like to say that I have space in my diary..
