Finally! Darling admits they were wrong!

Graham_Devon

Alistair Darling has said they need to show some Humility for whats gone on in the past 15 years!

Breath of fresh air from the labour party. Seems Ed Balls has also jumped onto this while Gordon Brown is away.

He has admitted they have some blame in the regularatory stakes. Admitted basically it's not all home grown in America.

He says all of us (thats me and you too) should have some humility over how we have acted over the past decade.

Not sure if this is a sweetener to start the printing presses, but it's certainly welcome. Will we get some sort of muttering from Gordon Brown? Bet GB is livid!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/financetopics/financialcrisis/4929979/Gordon-Brown-under-pressure-to-apologise-for-financial-mistakes.html

WestonDave

Nah - he just doesn't want Obama to stand up at the end of their summit and tell the world that he's sending Brown home with a flea in his ear to sort his own problems out rather than just blaming the US!

Alternatively the rats are starting to desert the sinking ship - I suspect some of them can see the writing on the wall for the next election and are already thinking ahead to the term after next, and clearing association with arrogant failure.

As for me being humble (although I think he actually means the wider government rather than the general public), I'll try to contribute by not saying I told you so too often!

Wookster

I heard this on Today earlier.

At least someone is being partially honest here. Now lets see if Crash can admit some mistakes.

Shall we bet on it? I don't think he knows the meaning of the word responsibility.

Kez100

To be fair to Darling was he anywhere when this mess was really being constructed?

He has been fighting fire with (probably) very little sway or even involvement in discussion and - to be fair to him - had to stay pretty silent so as not to cause panic. I will reserve judgement on him, that's all I am saying.

Sir_Humphrey

I seem to recall last summer, Darling claiming that the crisis was the worst since the Great Depression, for which he was roundly pilloried for 'talking down the economy'.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Graham_Devon

It was Darling who predicted this if we remember, last summer? He stated we must start acting.

He was forced to eat his words by Brown and offer an apology for speaking out of line, and in his apology, blame America.

I do have some time for Darling in all honesty. Shame he is under Brown.

Sir_Humphrey

I know this sounds naff, but the husband of a former work colleague used to work closely with Darling.

Apparently, he is a very nice guy. (Unlike some Ministers she mentioned)!

itsnever2lateisit?

Is this Darling and Balls distancing themselves from Brown, with an eye on the Labour leadership, post the General Election?

lostinrates

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

I know this sounds naff, but the husband of a former work colleague used to work closely with Darling.

Apparently, he is a very nice guy. (Unlike some Ministers she mentioned)!

Its the feeling I've always had too, in fact. From the outside my frustration is not with Darling but rather with the fact that he doesn't appear to be doing/allowed to fulfill his role as chancellor . I think he must be in a very uncomfortbale position right now.

itsnever2lateisit?

lostinrates wrote: »

Its the feeling I've always had too, in fact. From the outside my frustration is not with Darling but rather with the fact that he doesn't appear to be doing/allowed to fulfill his role as chancellor . I think he must be in a very uncomfortbale position right now.

IIRC the post of Prime Minister includes the post of "First Lord of the Treasury" in which case no one has a chance under the control freak that is Brown

WestonDave

Its going to be interesting when the embargo on cabinet minutes comes off in 30 (or is it 40) years time to see who was actually pulling the strings on key decisions - like for example the VAT cut.

My concern is that the one who failed to fix the problems while there was still time (you can argue whether he created or inherited the mess as Chancellor) has still got his hands on the till now. That Darling hints at tension in the Treasury is also worrying - is this because he isn't being allowed to think for himself rather than rely on the "saviour of the world"?