Government ministers, who've never had a proper job, have gone into jobs overload, raising false hopes with the sham of jobs to dig themselves out of a hole, as the economy crumbles round their ears.
With unemployment rife, the government knows the election will be fought on the battle ground of the economy. But time and again these much vaunted 'jobs' are nothing of the sort - just a sham to capture headlines, raising false hopes for people desperately struggling to make ends meet and anxious about the bleak future.
The economic recession depression should be a golden opportunity for the government to dust itself down, pick itself up and start all over again. But after a decade of spin and deceit, the only solution Brown can come up with is still more of the same.
The Orange Party is starting to lose track as the government goes into jobs announcements overload, none of which stand up to close scrutiny and none of them cut any ice with voters who are fed up with being Brown beaten by the spin.
A quick look trawl through Brown's BBC and Downing Street websites reveal the true extent of this deliberate electioneering campaign to hit on jobs, jobs, jobs as the government founders and flannels its way along.
Today we learn ministers are considering plans to guarantee reportedly up to £20 billion of loans to small businesses by insuring banks against firms defaulting on their loan payments. The devil is in the detail due to be announced tomorrow but what is clear is that kind of cash is a drop in the ocean and seems like more cash is just being thrown at the banks.
Yesterday it was the three amigos, Mandelson, Purnell and Brown promising to lift the country out of recession with the 'creation' of 500,000 new jobs with grants of £2,500 each to employers. But the figures didn't stack up and rapidly fell apart when Purnell revealed the scheme was going to cost a mere £500 million - or just £1,000 per head and only kick in after six months unemployment.
Brown promised to 'create' 100,000 new jobs, when that was actually only 'up to' 100,000 jobs and he meant protecting existing jobs. Then we had the announcement of 35,000 apprenticeships. But no one seemed to know if these were 'new' apprenticeships.
He did cheer everyone up in Liverpool, unveiling £35 million extra to help business start-ups. But then it transpires this wasn't new money after all.
And so it goes on. There's clearly a well-planned election strategy at work here. Travelling round, looking busy doing something, creating great false expectations with commitments which cannot be delivered. It may look good on Brown's websites - but that's all.
Time and again companies state the bleedin' obvious. Bogus job creation schemes are a waste of space if banks won't lend them money, preferring instead to squirrel away all that taxpayer's cash.
But the government is good at creating non-jobs particularly in the public sector. None of these jobs have any connection with the real economy. What's the big deal about New Deal apart from fiddling the dole figures with useless job creation schemes and disillusioned workers?
The recession should be a time for opportunity, to wipe the slate clean and start all over again. Cut out the waste in Whitehall and local government. Put an end to the squandered billions and hair-brained fancy white elephant schemes.
Create a culture and climate away from debt which allows firms to flourish and create genuine jobs. Real jobs for real people is a fine mantra. It just needs a government that will put its mouth where our money is.
Picture: Tractor Stats
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