I'll take that as a No, then

Over at Coffee House:

.. the [ Cabinet Office White Paper ] accepts that the recession is going to mean a smaller and more focused government.

“Just as a strong government is required to steer the economy through the global recession, it is also the case that a responsive state should withdraw from areas in which it is no longer needed... Now more than ever government must prioritise its interventions... We know that it is the effectiveness not the size of government that counts.”

Ah. Jolly good.

And then Brown goes and spoils it. The stupid sod just can't help himself.

Nick Bosanquet of Reform asked Gordon Brown directly whether the Government would plan for falling public spending in light of the recession.

"No," the Prime Minister replied, with a smile.

So tell me, Prime Minister, if you are going to reduce the size of the government, how the fuck do you justify thieving the same amount of tax for it as when you ran a bigger government?

But, do you know I think I have the answer to that? Let me have a go, anyway.

You're going to hive off a lot of stuff into what you will call 'the private sector' even though it won't be, or if it is, it'll be your pals like Goodwin and Myners and all those ex-Ministers now on the boards of profit-making concerns up and down the country, and into the 'third' sector... yes, all those fake charities... and you'll spend my taxes with them.

Ta-daaaah! Smaller government! Just like that!

But - oh, look. Who'd have thort it? A bigger quangocracy and, spookily, funded by the same level of government theft from the ever-compliant peasants as before. (Savour that thought while you can, Gordon. Ain't going to happen.)

I'm right, aren't I, you thieving but not awfully clever bastard? You still don't realise that we are on to your stealth tricks. You are just about the only human being left on the planet who believes what you say. And even you, in the depth of your delusions, must mutter to yourself, occasionally, 'I may be a liar but at least the fools still believe me. Don't they, Ed? Ed? Hello? Nurse!'

The interesting question is, if you're not even going to try or pretend to save some of our money - yes, ours, not yours - why are you bothering with any of this? Could it be that with elections coming up you thought that now might be a good time for another one of your meaningless gestures? Well, why not? Go ahead. You really are a card, Gordon. Look at me larfing.

And don't you fucking smile at me like that. It's horrible.