The thirty seventh weekly "No shit, Sherlock" award

This week's award goes to the Labour dominated Treasury Committee who have said that Alistair Darling's forecasts on the economy are "too optimistic" and that there is "considerable uncertainty" about the growth forecasts.

"No shit, Sherlocks"


PS: When even John McFall can't pretend that all is well in the Labour run economy then you know things are really bad.

Now that's how to question the politicians "in charge" of the failed economy

John McFall please take note. Although as John McFall's only qualification to be Chair of the Treasury Committee seems to be that he a close friend of Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling, maybe that is too much to hope for.



Thanks to Theo Spark for the spot.

The financial experts in government

Not Gordon Brown or Alistair Darling this time but the Chair of the Treasury Committee, John McFall. To become Chair of the Treasury Committee surely he has experience of Economics or banking or finance; don't be daft. Wikipedia record John McFall's past thus:

"He went to school in Dumbarton. He studied at Paisley College of Technology (now the University of Paisley) and the University of Strathclyde, receiving a BSc in Chemistry, then an MBA. He obtained a BA from the Open University in Education and Philosophy. He was a chemistry teacher in Dumbarton, Kirkintilloch and Glasgow, becoming a deputy-head from 1974-87, and Secretary of his Constituency Labour Party before he entered Parliament. In 1994, he became a Visiting Professor at Strathclyde University Business School, and now is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board at the University of Glasgow Business School. He is a member of the GMB Union.

Political career

He was first elected for the Dumbarton constituency, Scotland, at the 1987 general election, after the previous MP, Ian Campbell retired. His original majority was a little over 2,000. Dumbarton constituency was replaced with the new West Dunbartonshire constituency for the 2005 general election. McFall's majority is now over 12,500.

He has been a whip and junior minister (for Education, Training and Employment, Health and Community Relations, then in 1999 for Economy and Education) at the Northern Ireland Office from 1998-9."

Yes he looks well qualified to question bankers and financial experts, maybe he is qualified by virtue of him being a) Scottish, b) a loyal Labour MP and c) according to the Times "close to Alistair Darling and Gordon Brown". I can't think of anything else - can you?