What the Germans think about Saviour Brown's policies...
What the Germans think about Saviour Brown's policies...
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Puggit

Original Poster:

49,794 posts

277 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7776462.stm


German ridicule for UK policies

The German finance minister has launched an outspoken attack on the UK government's plans to help pull Britain out of the economic downturn.

In an unusual breach of standard diplomacy, Peer Steinbruck attacked the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels.

Mr Steinbruck said the UK's switch from financial prudence to heavy borrowing was both "crass" and "breathtaking".

eldudereno

997 posts

256 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Don't think the Germans are in a position to criticise anyone.

NoelWatson

11,710 posts

271 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
eldudereno said:
Don't think the Germans are in a position to criticise anyone.
Why not?

Pickled Piper

6,452 posts

264 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Germans criticising UK fiscal policy. Now that's a surprise!

Sorry to make sweeping generalisations but over the last ten to fifteen years I've seen nothing but resentment coming from Germany (and France) over Britians Economic success.

pp

RJE1966

568 posts

253 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:
Germans criticising UK fiscal policy. Now that's a surprise!

Sorry to make sweeping generalisations but over the last ten to fifteen years I've seen nothing but resentment coming from Germany (and France) over Britians Economic success.

pp
...because they're tied to the EU interest rates, that probably don't suit them?

fido

18,897 posts

284 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:
Germans criticising UK fiscal policy. Now that's a surprise!

Sorry to make sweeping generalisations but over the last fifteen years bar the last five years which was fuelled by a credit binge under the stewardship of our Great Leader I've seen nothing but resentment coming from Germany (and France) over Britians Economic success.

pp
EFA.

speedchick

5,288 posts

251 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
I guess they are upset, cos when Gordon saved the world, he forgot to save Germany too smile

ultegra

525 posts

235 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Shame Gordon's cleavage can't compare to Angela's.


Silver993tt

9,064 posts

268 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Pickled Piper said:
Germans criticising UK fiscal policy. Now that's a surprise!

Sorry to make sweeping generalisations but over the last ten to fifteen years I've seen nothing but resentment coming from Germany (and France) over Britians Economic success.

pp
Britains's economic success? rofl All that the UK built up was a service economy - built overnight and hence dissappeared overnight.

Germany is still the largest exporter in the world, larger than The US or China because they have a massive manufacturing base. I don't see many people talking about property prices/negative equity/reposessions over there.

I lived there for many years and we can only dream of the quality of life that most Germans have. Money isn't everything unless you live in the UK smile

triggersbroom

2,752 posts

233 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
Britains's economic success? rofl All that the UK built up was a service economy - built overnight and hence dissappeared overnight.

Germany is still the largest exporter in the world, larger than The US or China because they have a massive manufacturing base. I don't see many people talking about property prices/negative equity/reposessions over there.

I lived there for many years and we can only dream of the quality of life that most Germans have. Money isn't everything unless you live in the UK smile
^^^^^ +1 yes

Edited by triggersbroom on Wednesday 10th December 22:30

Danger_Mouse

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Puggit said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7776462.stm


German ridicule for UK policies

The German finance minister has launched an outspoken attack on the UK government's plans to help pull Britain out of the economic downturn.

In an unusual breach of standard diplomacy, Peer Steinbruck attacked the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels.

Mr Steinbruck said the UK's switch from financial prudence to heavy borrowing was both "crass" and "breathtaking".
Who cares what they think?

Should we be shocked because a european mp criticizes the UK? I think not, given it is something that happens on a almost daily basis.

And the thread title needs to be changed since this isn't 'What the Germans think about Saviour Brown's policies...' It should read, what one german finance minister thinks about UK policy.

I think he needs to spend less time trying to get himself in the news and more time figuring out how he is going to help the likes of BMW.

Plonker.

Geronimo

626 posts

221 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Their food's ste though.

trampagne

1,211 posts

219 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Danger_Mouse said:
Puggit said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7776462.stm


German ridicule for UK policies

The German finance minister has launched an outspoken attack on the UK government's plans to help pull Britain out of the economic downturn.

In an unusual breach of standard diplomacy, Peer Steinbruck attacked the UK's decision to cut VAT and raise the national debt to record levels.

Mr Steinbruck said the UK's switch from financial prudence to heavy borrowing was both "crass" and "breathtaking".
Who cares what they think?

Should we be shocked because a european mp criticizes the UK? I think not, given it is something that happens on a almost daily basis.

And the thread title needs to be changed since this isn't 'What the Germans think about Saviour Brown's policies...' It should read, what one german finance minister thinks about UK policy.

I think he needs to spend less time trying to get himself in the news and more time figuring out how he is going to help the likes of BMW.

Plonker.
+15 (.67)

Danger_Mouse

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Silver993tt said:
Britains's economic success? rofl All that the UK built up was a service economy - built overnight and hence dissappeared overnight.
I'm sorry what disappeared overnight? Please expand on that.

Silver993tt said:
Germany is still the largest exporter in the world, larger than The US or China because they have a massive manufacturing base. I don't see many people talking about property prices/negative equity/reposessions over there.
The reason there has been little in the way of negative equity is due to the fact they haven't seen growth in the same way the UK has, heck in 2005 they set a new record for unemployment. Thats some achievement eh?

And as we will come to see, manufacturing based countries obviously suffer greatly in economic slow downs. Will they suffer more than the UK? Very difficult to quantify given the countries have different industries and are very difficult to assess side by side.

Germany to Face Worst Recession in Its History
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3863212,00.ht...

Thats why one finance minister in a country suffering as many problems as the UK can be taken with a pinch of salt.


Saddle bum

4,211 posts

248 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Just don't mention the war.

NotHappy

122 posts

222 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Danger_Mouse said:
Silver993tt said:
Britains's economic success? rofl All that the UK built up was a service economy - built overnight and hence dissappeared overnight.
I'm sorry what disappeared overnight? Please expand on that.

Silver993tt said:
Germany is still the largest exporter in the world, larger than The US or China because they have a massive manufacturing base. I don't see many people talking about property prices/negative equity/reposessions over there.
The reason there has been little in the way of negative equity is due to the fact they haven't seen growth in the same way the UK has, heck in 2005 they set a new record for unemployment. Thats some achievement eh?

And as we will come to see, manufacturing based countries obviously suffer greatly in economic slow downs. Will they suffer more than the UK? Very difficult to quantify given the countries have different industries and are very difficult to assess side by side.

Germany to Face Worst Recession in Its History
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,3863212,00.ht...

Thats why one finance minister in a country suffering as many problems as the UK can be taken with a pinch of salt.
Maybe they had high unemployment because they don't have thousands of local govt. and public service 'jobs' to massage the unemployment figures.

pies1981

8,995 posts

216 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
2 world wars and one world cup, nuff said.

Danger_Mouse

7,520 posts

272 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
NotHappy said:
Maybe they had high unemployment because they don't have thousands of local govt. and public service 'jobs' to massage the unemployment figures.
Clearly their economy wasn't very clever in 2005.

My point was and this will be my last post in this thread;

A foolish man insults another's house when his clearly isn't in order.

This is the problem I have with politicians taking every opportunity to take a swipe at each other rather than trying to actually do their own jobs.



EDLT

15,421 posts

235 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
Saddle bum said:
Just don't mention the war.
But thats what happened shortly after Germany faced its previous "worst recession in history". nuts

fido

18,897 posts

284 months

Wednesday 10th December 2008
quotequote all
NotHappy said:
Maybe they had high unemployment because they don't have thousands of local
govt. and public service 'jobs' to massage the unemployment figures.
and they also changed their benefits system in 2005 so that more people being registered as unemployed (about +500,000 i think if you look it up on the BBC)
whereas Labour have fiddled everything so we have (or had) the lowest figures, the brightest kids and probably the best capitalised banks (in the world).