Douglas Carswell's Blog

Where do you stand on the economy?

1. The UK economy is stagnating.  While China has grown by 69 percent since 2005, India by 47 percent and Brazil by 25 percent, Britain has increased by 2 percent. In response, you believe that we should:

a)      Cut taxes and deregulate, so that wealth creators can create wealth

b)      Have the government spend more money to stimulate demand

c)       Make a speech  - preferably using the word "growth" a lot

If you answered a) you are probably regarded as an "ideologue", pursuing a dangerously dogmatic agenda b) You are probably Ed Miliband c) Aren't you in the government? 

2. As economic power shifts away from Europe, it seems the EU model of centrally harmonised policy-making is making Europe less dynamic and competitive.  In response, you believe that we should:

a)      Withdraw from the EU, so that we can trade with both our neighbours and the world

b)      Join the Euro

c)       Sign up to pan-EU economic governance

If you answered a) you will never get a Knighthood b) You may soon be asked to run the FSA or become Governor of the Bank of England c) You are probably a top official in the Treasury or Foreign Office and can look forward to promotion.  

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