Another great example of joined-up Tory “thinking” in this afternoon’s “news”.
Tory MP John Whittingdale, who serves as Chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, has attacked the Government for the level of funding the national tourism agency, “VisitBritain”, will receive in the run up to the Olympic Games in 2012.
Part of his spluttering rant went as follows:
“The government has made a lot about the benefits which will flow from the Olympics, not just to east London but right across the country, and one of the principal benefits should be to benefit tourism, with people seeing around the world what Britain has to offer.”
It’s a little hard for us at Recess Monkey to keep up with these guys. We thought Tories were the ones who went around criticising Government expenditure for being too much, while at the same time pledging to spend the same amount.
Now, in these uncertain economic times, Mr. Whittingdale seems to be criticising the scaling back of public spending on publicising Britain in the run up to the most high profile event in the World (i.e. when that 20% of spending will be least needed and least effective).
Also, who’s making VisitBritain’s job more difficult to do?
When it comes to promoting Britain – how many people will turn to the Tories who are (even today!!) out there selling the idea that this is a “Broken Society” and that contrary to falling crime stats, the public “is not safe”?
Recess Monkey hopes that the Conservatives (famed the World over for their open-minded, positive views on foreigners) should come up with a better way to promote the country.
Bonoboy
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Guys the only people who now believe the Labour Government’s nonsensical spin that crime is falling, that they haven’t broken our society or that there are going to be any genuine long term benefits from the Olympics are party apparatchicks like your good selves. The voters certainly don’t, as we are consistently seeing at the polls. Roll on 2010 and the end of the worst, most dishonest and most incompetent Government of the entire modern era.
Mr Angry said this on August 19th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Mr Angry - Firstly, crime is falling. It’s a fact. The BCS is the most reliable measure and if you and the rest of the Tory sounding board want to demean or criticise the efforts of the Police in crime then I suggest you find a more reliable measure than the BCS.
Certainly, a measure more reliable than the popular “newspapers” such as the Daily Mail. Of course you won’t though.
Nobody said the Government has eradicatyed crime - nobody said it’s falling in all categories and in all geographical area but it is vastly down on what it was 11 years ago.
I personally don’t care much for the Olympics but we will see a massive infrastructural investment in the East end of London, billions of public and private investment in facilities, communities, housing and sport. And, no thanks to the ignorant, opportunist, Tory doom mongers (such as your good self) a few bob from tourists visiting the country.
If you can’t recognise that as a genuine benefit than I suspect you’ll spend the rest of your miserable existance “Angry”.
Bonoboy said this on August 19th, 2008 at 1:09 pm