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HAS UK OPPOSITION spokesperson Ed Balls been reading Enda Kenny’s private diary? Well, we’ll never know – but the Labour shadow chancellor has just unveiled his own Five Point Plan to save the country’s economy.
Speaking at the Labour party conference in Liverpool today, Balls set out five measures to boost the UK’s economic growth. And media outlets across the country, from the Guardian to the Daily Mail, were quick to pick up on the catchy phrase.
Enda Kenny was widely mocked for endlessly repeating his own Five Point Plan, but it must have got through to voters as Fine Gael swept to a historic victory in February’s general election.
In fact, Balls is not the only one to have been apparently inspired by it – the BBC reports that the British Chamber of Commerce is also lobbying the Conservative-led government to adopt its very own – you guessed it – five-point plan for the economy.
Enda’s plan was more radical than his UK soundalike, with the Fine Gael plan promising radical reform of the public sector, the political system, healthcare, business regulations and job creation. But there are some similarities. Where Fine Gael proposed a “NewERA” investment in infrastructure, Balls suggested the UK should invest in roads and public transport; where Fine Gael cut employer PRSI, Balls proposed a “tax holiday” for small businesses.
In Ireland, the you-know-what was such a buzzword that even the Rubberbandits were dragged in on the action. So perhaps it’s time for a new version of this video?
Here’s Ed with his own plan:
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Let’s get Ireland working, Enda ?!
Any time soon would be nice!
More than 650 jobs announced yesterday. Over 8000 vancancies in information technology at the moment. Not a siolution, but it is a start.
Daniel, the job losses to come from MBNA will swap the 650 announced yesterday.. Don’t forget 575 from talk talk in Waterford either..
Let Enda sell his five point plan cos he’s obviously not using it. Now, if he could just find where he put it!! Check the loo, Enda, check the loo! Maybe it’s in the Septic Tank at this stage. Ask the British to pay your septic tank charge and send Gilmore down to retrieve it. Actually why not go with him so that ye can both feel what it’s like to in shit creek.
If they wanted to go any higher than five points, they’d have to take their hands out of the taxpayers pockets.
First they stole our land, then Terry wogan, and now our 5 point plan. Feckers.
they never stole Wogan, we sent him there as an act of retribution
So thats why the 5 point plan was never implemented. It was stolen
Five point plan?Five knuckle shuffle more like…..
Enda has a 5 point plan so I might just go with him
Did Enda ever tell anyone about this 5 point plan, must be a code in there some where?
Ya Evan real good politics. How do you figure that out?what are basing that on?doing exactly what fianna fail set up for them?real modern cutting edge politics Enda. Boom boom Miriam.
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