Though Cowards Flinch

I (and most of you will also) have just received the following mass-produced email, ostensibly from Gordon Brown.

“Dear David

You will have seen from the news that I have carried out changes in the Government today. I wanted to contact you directly to let you know the thinking behind these changes.

We are living through the first truly global financial crisis that started in America, but where we must in Britain now do everything we can to ensure the stability of our economic system.

Serious people are needed for these serious times.  Margaret Beckett has come back into Government and I have also promoted some of our Party’s best new talent to help deal with the new challenges we face.

I want to reconstruct the way we govern to meet these challenges.  Therefore I have created a new National Economic Council and put it on a day-to-day footing.  It will meet for the first time on Monday.

I have brought back Peter Mandelson from Brussels to lead our Business Department.  Peter has been a European Commissioner of great distinction. He has unrivalled experience in international business issues and has built a reputation over these last few years as someone who can get things done.

I believe the changes I have announced today are in the national interest. Our undivided attention must be on the security of millions of families and households who have been facing higher bills and now face the uncertainty caused by the financial failures in America and elsewhere.

Thank you for all that you do.

Gordon Brown”

And all that explains the departure of Tom “why is everyone so bloody miserable?” Harris how, exactly? It doesn’t mention any of the major changes beyond Mandelson and Beckett. Maybe Gordon is just a bit worried that most grassroots supporters of Labour think he’s just given Damien an all-access pass to government, having entertained Satan herself at Downing Street.

Also, notice how Gordon very casually blames the Americans for our financial screw ups without actually blaming the Americans. Nothing to do with the fact that our own banks like Northern Rock and Bradford and Bingley were involved in the subprime mortgage market up to their necks then. No, its those foreigners to blame.

I particularly like the bit about focusing on millions of families around the UK, which doesn’t mention how we increased the taxes on the poorest in the country nor how we refused to directly help out those who can’t afford energy bills whilst spending billions on bank nationalisations. Well, in terms of paying off the latter, no doubt every saving helps.

At least this mass email didn’t ask me for money, which makes a change.