Alan Sugar - Opinion of Gordon.
Discussion
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/art...
The businessman, who made his millions setting up the Amstrad computer company, complained during the last recession that Mr Brown “doesn’t know what he’s talking about”.
Writing at the trough of the last recession in March 1992, Sir Alan rejected an assertion by Mr Brown’s that his companies were flourishing in the recession.
He said the remarks were “a complete mystery” and dismissed the then shadow trade and industry secretary under Labour leader John Smith as a nobody.
“I do not know who Mr Gordon Brown is. Excuse my ignorance, but I don’t. Whoever he is, he has not done his homework properly. The man doesn’t know what he is talking about.”
He attacked previous Labour governments for high taxation, but firmly insisted he was always prepared to pay tax in Britain.
“When taxation was 98p in the pound under the last Labour government I would have been spending my time doing what I am doing now — creating wealth and producing employment.
“I would have been better off going to Bermuda, the Virgin Islands or Timbuktu.”
He said he did not like paying tax, “but agree that the 40 per cent I pay at the moment is reasonable and fair when you balance the fact that the country has got to run itself somehow, and I like living here in England.”
He added: “The thing that frightens me the most about a Labour government is that it suppresses enterprise. For instance, Labour’s talk about investment is a bit of a joke. The capital allowances for machinery, plant and equipment it urges are not going to encourage people to rush out tomorrow and start equipping a factory or making products.”
He went on to attack notions of class war. “The reason Labour flourished many years ago was the ‘them and us’ situation that prevailed in England. There were the rich and there were the poor. At that stage I might have sympathised with the need for a Labour government. But that’s all been changed now.”
He concluded: “Labour offers no sort of route out of recession. It’s out of date and — as Brown’s remark shows — he hasn’t done its homework.”
The businessman, who made his millions setting up the Amstrad computer company, complained during the last recession that Mr Brown “doesn’t know what he’s talking about”.
Writing at the trough of the last recession in March 1992, Sir Alan rejected an assertion by Mr Brown’s that his companies were flourishing in the recession.
He said the remarks were “a complete mystery” and dismissed the then shadow trade and industry secretary under Labour leader John Smith as a nobody.
“I do not know who Mr Gordon Brown is. Excuse my ignorance, but I don’t. Whoever he is, he has not done his homework properly. The man doesn’t know what he is talking about.”
He attacked previous Labour governments for high taxation, but firmly insisted he was always prepared to pay tax in Britain.
“When taxation was 98p in the pound under the last Labour government I would have been spending my time doing what I am doing now — creating wealth and producing employment.
“I would have been better off going to Bermuda, the Virgin Islands or Timbuktu.”
He said he did not like paying tax, “but agree that the 40 per cent I pay at the moment is reasonable and fair when you balance the fact that the country has got to run itself somehow, and I like living here in England.”
He added: “The thing that frightens me the most about a Labour government is that it suppresses enterprise. For instance, Labour’s talk about investment is a bit of a joke. The capital allowances for machinery, plant and equipment it urges are not going to encourage people to rush out tomorrow and start equipping a factory or making products.”
He went on to attack notions of class war. “The reason Labour flourished many years ago was the ‘them and us’ situation that prevailed in England. There were the rich and there were the poor. At that stage I might have sympathised with the need for a Labour government. But that’s all been changed now.”
He concluded: “Labour offers no sort of route out of recession. It’s out of date and — as Brown’s remark shows — he hasn’t done its homework.”
Yes, but back in 1992 Sir Alan was a businessman. These days he is a wealthy celebrity eager for yet more limelight.
And these days he's "s
tting frying pans and cocktail sticks" too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxi6QDwQyLU (4:39)
And these days he's "s
tting frying pans and cocktail sticks" too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxi6QDwQyLU (4:39)Edited by JonRB on Friday 5th June 19:57
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politic...
Very interesting then. Brown trying to gain some reflected glory from Sugar's celebrity?
Very interesting then. Brown trying to gain some reflected glory from Sugar's celebrity?
Back in 1992, people had not yet bought into Blair-ite "New Labour". Labour still meant the socialist left wing Trade Union party. Labour government was still 5 years away. The was 17 years ago. I probably didn't know who Gordon Brown was then, either. I think that the quote does not represent Alan Sugar's view of Gordon Brown, now...
robm3 said:
Doesn't Sugar do a lot of charity work for Ormond Street children's hospital?
He is also a Bransonesque media we (though not quite as good at it).The only person he's looking out for is number one.
At least we know he's got an eye for a bargain, I mean, who else wouldn't have looked seriously at Woollies late last year...
So British business is going to be guided by the man who thought the Amstrad E-mailer was a good idea (did ANYONE buy one of those???) and who selects some of his top executives via a glorified game show.
Apparently most of his money is in property these days. Expect lots of recommendations designed to make house prices skyrocket again then.
You know what, I'm off to the shops to stock up on tinned food and bog roll. Then I'm going to lock the door and stay inside until this shower are gone. Because right now this country has about as much government as Somalia.
Apparently most of his money is in property these days. Expect lots of recommendations designed to make house prices skyrocket again then.
You know what, I'm off to the shops to stock up on tinned food and bog roll. Then I'm going to lock the door and stay inside until this shower are gone. Because right now this country has about as much government as Somalia.
D-Angle said:
So British business is going to be guided by the man who thought the Amstrad E-mailer was a good idea (did ANYONE buy one of those???) and who selects some of his top executives via a glorified game show.
Apparently most of his money is in property these days. Expect lots of recommendations designed to make house prices skyrocket again then.
You know what, I'm off to the shops to stock up on tinned food and bog roll. Then I'm going to lock the door and stay inside until this shower are gone. Because right now this country has about as much government as Somalia.
Nah. We've got more. WAY more. More government, in fact, than any collection of people could conceivably need.Apparently most of his money is in property these days. Expect lots of recommendations designed to make house prices skyrocket again then.
You know what, I'm off to the shops to stock up on tinned food and bog roll. Then I'm going to lock the door and stay inside until this shower are gone. Because right now this country has about as much government as Somalia.
That's the bloody problem.
D-Angle said:
You know what, I'm off to the shops to stock up on tinned food and bog roll. Then I'm going to lock the door and stay inside until this shower are gone. Because right now this country has about as much government as Somalia.
You're missing the bigger picture.As is widely recognised in scientific circles;
Piracy in Somalia is up, and the UK is set to follow a similar trend.
Piracy up, global warming averted.
Gordo's out to save the planet!
its just the start of the spin doctoring i think, a lot worse to come probably involving bbc tv appearances on their highest rated shows...a labour candidate canvassing the streets of boredomwood in bellenders.....i dont think labour were ever interested in fueling private sector initiatives or improving the business environment...
Edited by Mclovin on Saturday 6th June 14:54
Mclovin said:
its just the start of the spin doctoring i think, a lot worse to come probably involving bbc tv appearances on their highest rated shows...a labour candidate canvassing the streets of boredomwood in bellenders.....i dont think labour were ever interested in fueling private sector initiatives or improving the business environment...
I don't think that's allowed from what I can infer from DigiSpy. Something about all parties must get the same airtime?Edited by Mclovin on Saturday 6th June 14:54
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