Britain is great at it. But bottom of the Euro league table.
Nobody’s noticed, but Labour has put through a seismic change on the independence of those vital national statistics. Government cannot influence the National Statistics Authority. They are now freestanding and their independence is guaranteed in law. Last week, the Government cut the advance notices that department have to see new figures from five days to 24 hours. This means giving away the power to spin that all previous Governments have had and have used to their advantage.
The economist Andrew Dilnot said that the Statistics Act was the most important legislation of this parliament. But few have noticed. There is worldwide respect for our statisticians. Newport is now the brilliant British centre for the Office of National Statistics. Today at my select committee we were told that in a Euro survey on public trust in statistics in 27 countries, ours are trusted the least.
Mainly because of the manipulation of figures by all Governments, partly because of the cynicism our top number crunchers are humbled into 27th position.
I asked Sir Michael Scholar and National Statistician Karen Dunnell, how we can convince the public that our statistics are pristine and unspun? Should we not re-package them under a new named rather than the tainted ones of ‘National’ or ‘Government’ statistics.’
How about calling them ‘Independent Statistics' so they can be recognized for the gold standard figures that they are. The top quality work of our statisticians deserves recognition.
Sir Michael and Karen are thinking about this.
It gets better.
Yesterday's publicity for this blog has attracted some surprising new readers. I had a welcome phone call today from a tabloid paper. They have been poring over past blogs and they like the irreverence and the jokes. My caller had detailed knowledge of many past posts.
It could be that the contents may soon reach a much wider audience. I am slowly becoming grateful to the Commons Authorities for their censorship bid.
Hazel unveiled
Hold your breath.
An exciting interview is on the way. An E-mail tells me that Hazel Blears will sit down with Total Politics publisher Iain Dale to mull over the finer points of tap-dancing and big bikes.
The diminutive smart Hazel is an incongruous figure straddling a Harley Davidson. Her worst parliamentary moment came when the other worldly Transport Minister Keith Hill tried disastrously to praise her.
In answer to an oral question from Hazel on the floor of the Commons Keith brightly replied, ‘My honourable friend has asked so many questions about motor bikes, she is becoming known as Blears the Bike.’
Keith told me this week that it was one of his three worst parliamentary moments. Totally innocent of any double entendre, he paused in answering the question, aware of the mounting murmur and giggles provoked by the expression 'Blears the bike'. He might also have notice Hazel turning puce.
To add further insult to insult, Tory MP Michael Fabricant asked ‘Did he say, ‘Blears the Dyke’ ? . Hazel said afterwards, ‘One side of the House thought I was promiscuous, the other side thought I was a Lesbian.’
I am sure this and other fascinating episodes will embroider next week’s article in Total Politics.
I certainly think that no MP who has been forced to resign from the cabinet, for example, through impropriety of any sort, especially with regard to financial matters, should ever be given a peerage. That is asking for trouble. As the rules appear to be more relaxed in the HoL than the HocC that is asking for trouble in the future, and is almost an invitation for the errant former MP to continue to get up to their tricks.
Posted by: Graham Marlowe | January 26, 2009 at 04:11 AM
Perhaps not jargon, but how about an end to:
"Nothing's ruled in, and nothing's ruled out"
"We are where we are"
"Best practice" (does anyone really advocate SWORST ;practice -thougfh we often get it)
"Making a difference": Originally used by the Blair Babes when they forgot their script, but now taken up by everyone in public life.
and perhaps Osborne could now drop the "fixing the roof while the sun shines" soundbite which I have heard at least a dozen times now on radio
Posted by: Graham Marlowe | December 10, 2008 at 04:59 AM
Thanks Huw. Thanks for the information. I've taken the item off.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | November 22, 2008 at 12:19 PM
PhonepayPlus is the organisation that regulates products or services - such as competitions, TV voting, helplines, adult entertainment, downloads, new alerts or interactive games - that are charged to users' phone bills or pre-pay accounts.
They do provide a handy little number checker so you can find out more about any
particular premium rate number.
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/numberchecker/
Posted by: Huw O'Sullivan | November 22, 2008 at 12:03 PM
The body previously known as ICSTIS
now rebranded as phonepayplus gives general information about 09xx numbers.
http://www.phonepayplus.org.uk/consumers/faq/default.asp#09
0906 numbers CAN carry a fixed rate charge
rather than a simple per minute charge.
It is generally good advice to not call any 09xx number unless you absolutely have to and know who you are dealing with.
Posted by: Huw O'Sullivan | November 22, 2008 at 11:50 AM
The maximum 0906 premium rate is £1.50 per minute, and you can't be billed £15 unless you hang on the line for ten minutes. Of course, it's still a scam and ICSTIS are useless - I had a problem with unsolicited reverse charge text messages from a rogue company and ICSTIS were unable to do anything. Quite frankly I can't see why the police couldn't get involved - it's blatant fraud. But the police these days have other priorities.
Posted by: Kay Tie | November 21, 2008 at 10:41 AM
"Hazel Blears will sit down with Total Politics publisher Iain Dale to mull over the finer points of tap-dancing and big bikes. "
Just about sums up her intellectual capabilities doesn't it? And Pound wanted her as Deputy Leader!
Says it all, really.
Posted by: Graham Marlowe | November 21, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Michael Scholar o Dowlais born Merthyr bred nice to see him doing well
Posted by: valleysmam | November 21, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Steady on, Huw. I have written for several tabloids in the past. It's very useful to get through to millions of readers who do not follow parliament or read blogs. However it tends to be relatively short lived. We live in hope.
There is is real danger that national attention brings a national reaction in messages that are difficult to handle. The constituents come first.
Posted by: Paul Flynn | November 21, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Good heavens, does this mean Paul that you may be about to become a national celebrity.
Will we be seeing your daily column in the mirror and appearances on have I got news for you.
Will your constituency work suffer?
Will your blog start earning?
Will even more swarms of borderline sane people start commenting.
Wheres my purple crayon?
Posted by: Huw O'Sullivan | November 21, 2008 at 12:36 AM
I laughed out loud. :)
Posted by: Will S | November 20, 2008 at 11:44 PM