ID :
40941
Fri, 01/16/2009 - 11:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/40941
The shortlink copeid
Indian-origin UK minister apologises for 'insensitive' remark
Prasun Sonwalkar
London, Jan 15 (PTI) Indian-origin UK Business Minister Shriti Vadera, who sparked a welter of criticism across the political spectrum by claiming that she saw some economic growth amidst a litany of job losses, has apologised.
A close aide of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Vadera
had said amidst reports of thousands of job losses, "I am
seeing a few green shoots but it's a little bit too early to
say exactly how they'd grow."
The remarks were immediately crticised by MPs who
alleged Brown's ministers were "living on another planet" and
were "insensitive" to the plight of thousands of people who
had lost their jobs in the current economic downturn.
Many were reminded of the 'green shoots' remark by
Chancellor Norman Lamont in the John Major government, when he
famously claimed in 1991 that he had detected "the green
shoots of economic spring", during the economic downturn,
which had provoked widespread criticism.
Gujarat-origin Vadera, 46, is known in the halls of
Westminster for her tough, no-nonsense approach in
negotiations to ensure the implementation of Brown's policies.
Apologising for the remarks, Vadera said she had
referred to some signs of recovery in the bonds market, and
added that she and other ministers in the Brown government
were focused on alleviating the effects of the economic
downturn.
Alan Duncan, the shadow business secretary, said:
"Shriti Vadera's comments go to show how out of touch and
insensitive Gordon Brown's ministers are."
He said Vadera had "just advertised her own
unsuitability for addressing the difficulties that the victims
of Gordon Brown's recession are facing".
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman,
called Vadera's comments "a work of fiction".
"Baroness Vadera is clearly living in a parallel
universe if she thinks the economy is beginning to recover.
With thousands of jobs being lost every day and many families
at risk of repossession, recovery is sadly a long way off.
Ministers shouldn't talk down the economy, but Vadera's
comments are a work of fiction," he said.
Uganda-born Vadera was employed for 14 years at the
investment bank UBS. Following Brown's appointment as Prime
Minister, he appointed her as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State in the Department for International Development (DFID).
As a Minister, she had to go into Parliament, and,
lacking a seat in the House of Commons, she was created a life
peer on 11 July 2007 as Baroness Vadera.
After six months at DFID she was moved to the
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. PTI
London, Jan 15 (PTI) Indian-origin UK Business Minister Shriti Vadera, who sparked a welter of criticism across the political spectrum by claiming that she saw some economic growth amidst a litany of job losses, has apologised.
A close aide of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Vadera
had said amidst reports of thousands of job losses, "I am
seeing a few green shoots but it's a little bit too early to
say exactly how they'd grow."
The remarks were immediately crticised by MPs who
alleged Brown's ministers were "living on another planet" and
were "insensitive" to the plight of thousands of people who
had lost their jobs in the current economic downturn.
Many were reminded of the 'green shoots' remark by
Chancellor Norman Lamont in the John Major government, when he
famously claimed in 1991 that he had detected "the green
shoots of economic spring", during the economic downturn,
which had provoked widespread criticism.
Gujarat-origin Vadera, 46, is known in the halls of
Westminster for her tough, no-nonsense approach in
negotiations to ensure the implementation of Brown's policies.
Apologising for the remarks, Vadera said she had
referred to some signs of recovery in the bonds market, and
added that she and other ministers in the Brown government
were focused on alleviating the effects of the economic
downturn.
Alan Duncan, the shadow business secretary, said:
"Shriti Vadera's comments go to show how out of touch and
insensitive Gordon Brown's ministers are."
He said Vadera had "just advertised her own
unsuitability for addressing the difficulties that the victims
of Gordon Brown's recession are facing".
Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman,
called Vadera's comments "a work of fiction".
"Baroness Vadera is clearly living in a parallel
universe if she thinks the economy is beginning to recover.
With thousands of jobs being lost every day and many families
at risk of repossession, recovery is sadly a long way off.
Ministers shouldn't talk down the economy, but Vadera's
comments are a work of fiction," he said.
Uganda-born Vadera was employed for 14 years at the
investment bank UBS. Following Brown's appointment as Prime
Minister, he appointed her as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of
State in the Department for International Development (DFID).
As a Minister, she had to go into Parliament, and,
lacking a seat in the House of Commons, she was created a life
peer on 11 July 2007 as Baroness Vadera.
After six months at DFID she was moved to the
Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. PTI
