I thought Moscow was where this kind of thing was supposed to happen.
BBC Scotland’s political editor Brian Taylor asked Mr Darling why he had given such a bleak assessment of the economy.
Mr Darling replied: ‘I think it’s important that I tell people that we, along with every other country in the world, face a unique set of circumstances where we have got the credit crunch coming at the same time as high oil and food prices.
'That means there is a profound difference in the economy, along with every other country in the world.’
Mr Taylor: ‘But isn’t it the job of the Leader of the Opposition to say – and I use your words – “we are p****d off” about the economy?’
Mr Darling: ‘I think it’s important that Government Ministers and me in particular are level with people and explain that every other country in the world, ours included, have a credit crunch the like of which we have not seen in generations at the same time as oil and food prices going up.’
Mr Taylor: ‘But Chancellor, the strategy here is puzzling. Shouldn’t you be reassuring people rather than talking down the economy and saying it’s the worst for 60 years?’
Mr Darling: ‘I think it’s important that while we, along with every other country in the world, are facing the unique combination of a credit crunch, high oil and food prices, that we do everything possible to help people.’
Mr Taylor (clearly becoming frustrated): ‘Do you regret blurting out the truth in such a frank fashion?’
Mr Darling: ‘I have been saying for many weeks now that we along with every other country in the world are facing a unique set of circumstances: the credit crunch along with very high oil and food prices...’
Mr Taylor: ‘Chancellor, forgive me, but you have made that point a number of times. What I am after is what was the thinking behind this?
'Usually Chancellor of the Exchequers should provide calm reassurance. You are talking about people being “p****d off” with the economy and the worst crisis for 60 years. Won’t this make things worse?’
Mr Darling: ‘I think it’s important that when people ask why are these problems facing countries across the world, that finance ministers explain that we have got a credit crunch the like of which we have not seen in generations and rising oil and food prices causing inflationary pressures.
'And we also explain that’s why we need to support the economy now and help the economy through what is undoubtedly a difficult time.
Russia isn't facing this 'unique set of circumstances...' though.
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Not sure it was the same interview, but D. was asked about his "not likeable" comment on Wendy Alexander; he denied it, but with a spectacular twitch in his lower lip - right down to the chin! I do hope it's on Youtube.
So Darling's response really was "it's not our fault".
Well it wasn't their fault when things were going well, but they took the credit, didn't they?
Goose, Sauce, Gander.
Out now, the lot of them.
Badger-speak for 'Haven't a clue, and watch us make it worse because we haven't the slightest idea on waht to do'.
This futile idiot is all they have to show for a catastrophic failure of economic policy. His boss should be shot - surely they both knew that they'd run out of excuses one day.
Deafening silence from all the other failed hangers-on too. The public purse still grinds out their expenses though.
And it's false. Only the United States (and they are so infinitely more capable of making the economic climate) and the UK are facing this particularly poisonous set of circumstances. Other countries face some of them but none of them face the toxicity created by Brown.
I can think of no countries other than these two who have self-certified, maxi-multiple mortgages, combined with extravagantly long pay-back periods, coupled to gigantic credit card debt and roaring inflation in foods and, particularly, energy.
As for what to do, Brown hasn't even taken the straightforward fiscal measures adopted in the US, nor can he contemplate cutting taxes and retrenching on public expenditure. Instead he is off to Brussels in the morning to tell the Rusians that he will be after them if they go on removing other people's tanks from their lawn. Him and whose army one wonders. Ours is at Basra airport - it's been there for years.
And what is this regime going to do when Alex Salmond makes off with most of the oil and gas fields? Recognise it like Kosovo or invade Scotland like some local South Ossetia?
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