Shameless

In a vain attempt to try and justify his election speculation cock up to his own MPs, Gordon Brown last night told them that he had manipulated the situation in order to flush out tory polices. Well, that bit was successful, if it is true. The tories announced key policies on health, taxation, crime, and education. The biggest headline grabber as we know as that of the issue of inheritance tax.

Now, some time ago when the knives were out for David Cameron for not showing his policies I backed him for that stance, saying that if he came up with anything good, Labour would try and pinch it, and dress it up as their own idea. I would also admit that this was while I was in a major conspiract theory, paranoia type of mood. Little did I think that our government would actually stoop that low.

However, from the looks of today's headlines it appears that I was right. Later today Chancellor Darling, it set to annouce his pre-budget report, and quelle surprise there is a piece about.... you guessed it.....a review of inheritance tax. The blazen way that this government is now blatantly stealing policy ideas from the tories is a clear indication that they have run out of ideas themselves.

But it doesn't stop there. The government's handling of the economy as a whole should also come quite a bit of scrutiny, as the pre-budget report is due to show for the eleventh budget running, that the treasury's forecast for growth was too ambitious, resulting in a squeeze on health and education spending.

It is this lack of realistic planning, and reform that is causing growth to slow. This is a perfect opportunity for George Osbourne to really attack Labour, and their lack of "vision", and blatant theft of ideas. Only he can take that opportunity.