"We will never compromise our commitment to meet our fiscal rules"
On most other days, the fact that (according to Nationwide's latest report) would be front page news. But the headlines are still dominated by the Ross-Brand debacle at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ.
The row, now something of a national obsession, has also obscured . Last night, in a speech which left unanswered many important questions about government debt strategy, Mr Darling declared the old fiscal rules were no longer appropriate but didn't quite tell us what would replace them.
As , the Chancellor's lecture
glosses over the real debate: should the Government announce further tax and spending measures to boost the economy above what is happening anyway? Or should the main emphasis be on cutting interest rates?
Perhaps we'll get some answers in the pre-Budget Report, now expected mid-November, which of course we'll carry live in a Daily Politics special.
The opposition is now emphasising that Mr Brown never mentioned during the past 11 years that his much-trumpeted fiscal rules were only for the good years. Indeed, shadow chancellor George Osborne, now back to regular duty after his short life on the ocean waves with a Russian oligarch, has uncovered :
At all times - now and in the future - we will never compromise our commitment to meet our fiscal rules and disciplines.
We'll be looking at the political and economic implications of falling house prices at a time when unemployment is rising, consumer confidence is falling and home repossessions are soaring. Taken together, it is hardly surprising nobody is expecting much of a recovery soon.
We'll also bring you the latest on the at the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ. , but Jonathan Ross has a lot more to lose: we'll probably find out today if the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ regards his apology as enough.
The politicians are still wading in, treating the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ as a national punchbag - critics say the whole issue could have been quickly closed down if ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ executives had acted more swiftly and decisively. Justice Secretary Jack Straw, always ready with a populist soundbite, is effectively calling for Mr Ross to be sacked. But should politicians be so vocal? Have they nothing better to do? Are they filling a vacuum created by ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ management's flat-footed response? We'll discuss all of the above today.
We'll also be showing the last in our poll to find My Favo(u)rite President, with a profile of the incumbent . Hollywood director Oliver Stone has been setting forth his opinion in our latest film and we'll be talking to one of his fans, Charlie Woolf. Our polls close when the Americans go to the ballot boxes for that less important vote across the pond, so get over .
In support of comedy, we'll be picking some of the best comic sketches from the US campaign so far. And today, for the whole show, we'll be talking to the American comedian, .
That's all on the Daily Politics at Noon on ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ2. If you don't tune in we'll get Russell Brand to call your answering machine! Let us know what you think about politics and the show using the comments box below.
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