Letter: Mailbag - Just who's at the helm?

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Sept 4, 2008

Byline: BILL ARMER

THE curious behaviour of our Government is alarming. Dismal Darling does a Private Fraser (we're all doomed), and Mutinous Miliband, after aiming a dagger at his boss's back, tries to alienate the man who controls our gas supplies as winter beckons.

Brooding Brown, meanwhile, seems to be in denial about his culpability for our increasingly perilous economic situation. If this Government was an individual the men in white coats would be hovering. Brown, who claimed the credit for the good times and proclaimed an end to boom and bust, cannot avoid the blame for the bad ones. Anyone with any degree of worldly experience knows that life has its ups and downs. In the good days, while little luxuries are fine, it is sensible to set something aside for the inevitable rainy days to come.

I was tempted to say "prudent", but Brown's callous treatment of former paramour Prudence forbids. After all, he squandered the good-time income and sold the family gold at a knock-down price.

Worryingly, busted Brown seems to genuinely believe that he is the best person to steer the ship of state through these dangerous waters.

Rather like Captain Smith of the Titanic going on to seek the North-West Passage!

Meanwhile, as the ship's officers squabble and the captain sulks in his cabin who is at the helm?

An iceberg is a very hard place indeed and I have no faith in the (prodigal) son of the manse to steer around it.

BILL ARMER Deighton