Deflections

Nearly three weeks ago Iain Martin, in an excellent Telegraph blog, listed the "glossary of New Labour phrases". This included "Time to draw a line under it", -Tony Blair's phrase to duck out of disadvantageous topics, "We are getting on with the job", beloved of Gordon Brown, and "focus on issues that real people are interested in".

One he didn't include, possibly because it was a Majorism, was "We are not getting our message across." This was used by implication by Chipmunk Blears, with the meaning that their policies are excellent and compelling, the only real problem is that somehow we are being prevented from reaching people with the messages.

As the man said, "If you believe that, you will believe anything!"

All these phrases are cover-up, deflections from reality, trying to deceive friend and foe and voter.

When they become necessary, you know that a government is in terminal decline.