Alice Miles deplores Gordon Brown’s message for Konnie Huq on her leaving Blue Peter. Ms Miles is right, but for the wrong reasons. Mr Brown shouldn’t be thanking Konnie. He should be decrying the adverse effect she’s had upon the British economy.
The reason for this is simple. Anything that makes being out of work more pleasant encourages people to linger on benefits. And the sight of Ms Huq on daytime TV has just this effect. Why bother going out to work when you can stay home and look at her? (Of course, you could record her whilst you work - but how will you find time to watch her amid all those episodes of CSI?)
In this sense, Ms Huq’s influence upon the economy has been massively pernicious. Let’s do some sums. There are 5.2 million people of working age claiming state benefits. Let’s assume that Konnie’s appearance on Blue Peter caused - at the margin - 5% of these to stay out of work. That’s 260,000 people. If we assume these would have earnt £15,000 a year, then the economy lost £3.9bn a year.
This means that, over the 10 years Konnie’s presented Blue Peter, we’ve lost the equivalent of a year’s spending on the defence budget. Her leaving the programme could therefore be a positive supply shock. It’ll encourage some people to find work, which in turn will raise output and reduce the inflationary pressures Mervyn King warned about last night. I suspect, however, that this effect will only partially offset the effect Carol Vorderman’s boob job has had in curtailing labour supply. Never mind the credit crunch - that’s been the biggest economic disaster of recent years.
The point: does this seem absurd? It shouldn’t. It’s merely the logical consequence of the assumption that people on benefits could work if they want to. Perhaps it’s this premise that’s wonky.
* Cross-posted from Stumbling and Mumbling
Konnie Huq is stunning, agreed.
BTW. could there be an argument for TV returning to 8 or 10 hrs a day? Most of its garbage, anyway. The BBC could certainly turn off its channels for most of the day, and slash the television license. Just a thought…
Sorry, I thought I was reading LC not Nuts or Loaded: Konnie Huq…phwoarrrrr, now let’s talk about Carol Vorderman’s boobs.
Give is a break Chris, this sexist shite is beneath you.
Chill out Cath, I thought it was a very funny way of headbutting a very dodgy premise (people on benefits could work if they want to).
ps Konnie Huq is pleasant to look at. Carol Vorderman scares me, i’m frightened she might sell me a dodgy loan!
Oh come on Cath. A little humour on LC wouldn’t go amiss, would it?
Us men are primeval beasts, Cath.
It’s not our fault. Blame Darwin. ;)
“It’s not our fault. Blame Darwin. ;)”
That is the problem with the left. Always blaming someone else!
Maybe Ms Huq plays a role for sure. But perhaps we could begin by eliminating more likely causes like the lack of MONETARY incentives built into getting work. It doesn’t all have to be horrible right-wing cutting off benefits stuff. We could start by raising the no income tax allowance so that people on the minumum wage and somewhat above never have to worry about handing over the money they have earned to the government. With that extra money, broadband and BBC Iplayer could be in the reach of the previously unemployed and the “Huq factor” would also be removed.
Is it sexist if I admit that *I* wouldn’t say no to Konnie? I draw the line at the Vord at the Board, though. After all, she only got a third in her degree… ;)
For folk of a certain age, me for instance, Carol Vorderman is extremely attractive. She knows useful things like what day of the week it is, or even more complicated stuff like what day of the month. And when she got over her frumpy look, whoowaar! (I hope I’ve got that right, not as young as I used to be)
Anyway I think Rupa Huq is a doll.
Have canvassed things here at home, and it turns out neither my husband not I would say no to Konnie. Always good to find another thing in common.
Although I now suspect he had kids so he could start watching Blue Peter.
Is that bad?
‘nor I’ I meant.
sorry
hands shaking
This is the funniest post I have read on LC. Ever. And I’m female!
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