Tim Martin, Founder And Chairman, Wetherspoon Pubs

摘要

My first principle is that a problem acknowledged is one half resolved, so, unlike Gordon Brown, I won't blame the Americans for our banking problems. Sub-prime loans in Ohio are nothing to do with Northern Rock.rnMy second principle is that humans are prone to 'irrational exuberance', so I won't be claiming the end of boom and bust. On the contrary, I won't forget the primary duty of the chancellor, in concert with my colleague Merv [King] at the Bank of England, of taking the punchbowl away just as the party gets started.rnBut let's get down to brass tacks. When he became chancellor, Brown masqueraded as a man of prudence but made Imelda Marcos look thrifty. Gordie increased public expenditure from ￡300bn in 1997 to about ￡640bn today.rnI'm a big fan of sensible public expenditure, but you can't increase spending at this rate and spend it wisely. Also, the spending increasesrnhave surpassed taxpayers' ability to pay.