Interesting to read that the growth of public spending under Labour has created a generation of “Soviet” boroughs where half the population is dependent on the state for work. An analysis of official figures has shown 10 areas where more than 40% of the workforce is employed in the public sector. Got that – 40%! Increased reliance on the state has come with the failure to develop new industries to replace mining and manufacturing.

“Topping the league is Castle Morpeth, Northumberland, where the state provides 57% of jobs. Even this understates public sector dominance – the town is a dormitory for HM Revenue and Customs offices 10 miles away that employ 6,000 people. The northeast dominates the “Soviet” league, drawn up by the Centre for Economics and Business Research. Whitehall has located agencies there to soak up unemployment caused by the decline of manufacturing and mining. Chris Grayling, shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “The government has let Britain slip down the competitiveness league with the result that, in towns like this, the private sector has become a minor part of the local economy.” Five miles from Morpeth is Wansbeck, the second most state-dominated borough in Britain with 47.5% employed by the state. Other such areas include Hastings in East Sussex, Ceredigion in west Wales and Inverclyde, west of Glasgow.”

Punishing the wealth-creating sector whilst building this vast state behemoth is Labour’s proudest hour as the Sovietisation of Britian continues apace.

Earlier this year, as the price of gasoline began to climb, and with the election of Barack Obama ever on its mind, the MSM wrung its collective hands and painted a grim picture of increasing and inescapable costs plaguing the American economy.  In June,  the price of gasoline in California was around $4.79/gallon, low by European standards, but quite high for America. According to the MSM, America was quickly “going to Hell in a handbasket,” with the implied subtext  that only Obama could save us. 

Six months, and one election later, gas is now $1.79/gallon.  I was astonished this weekend to  fill my tank for only $33, compared to $86/tank  in June.  In fact, I was so astonished that I took this picture!

h/t The Englishman