Archive for June 3rd, 2009

With the country – or rather the dwindling private sector propping up the state spongers and providing copper bottomed pensions to some public sector incompetents – trying to climb off the floor, what does our lousy, lame leader Gordon Brown do?
The buffoon rings to check on the health of Britain’s Got Talent runner-up Susan Boyle – an idiotic PR stunt, trying to tap into the populist mood, when he should be busy doing what is best for the country. Calling a General Election and writing his letter of resignation.
But my fiercest wrath is saved for Margaret Beckett, the insufferably smug housing minister, who said of Gordon Brown: “There could be nothing more grossly irresponsible at the time of greatest recession to dispense with the services of the person who is recognised everywhere in the world as best fitted to deal with it.”
Putting aside this ludicrous defence of the man recognised everywhere in the UK as the bloke, together with Tony ‘timing is everything’ Blair, who got us into this mess, why isn’t the housing minister concentrating on re-igniting the very thing that can help the economy deal with recession – the housing market?
With a range of affordable initiatives out there, Beckett should be out telling the mortgage companies that shared ownership schemes should not be considered sub-prime and to get lending on them. Especially the banks we own.
Meanwhile housebuilders trying to shift stock and galvanise sales are being continually thwarted by down-valuations.
Christine Harris of Classic Developments, writing in this month’s Show House magazine, says: Valuations done on behalf of mortgage companies, which in some instances own their own valuers, are often below those done by independent valuers on behalf of developers or housing associations, thereby slowing down or, in many cases, collapsing sales.
“While sales have been robust in the social housing sector, if the government was to step in to rectify the situation by preventing banks owning valuers, or using associated companies, it would really transform the level of transactions.”
Meanwhile having just watched the last two Jonathan Ross shows I am forming the ‘Martin Sheen for Prime Minister, Joanna Lumley for Foreign Secretary’ party, touring the country with dancers Diversity performing on an open-top bus.

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