Six months into financial crisis Chancellor starting to admit problems

2.30.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Apr 2008

Shadow Chancellor Vince Cable

Chancellor Alistair Darling has said the Government needs to "sharpen ourselves up" and deliver a "clear message of what we are about". Mr Darling is the most senior minister to acknowledge concerns about the Government's performance.

Vince Cable, Shadow Chancellor said "Many people will be staggered to hear that only now, six months into a financial crisis, the Chancellor is starting to admit there is a problem. Where on earth has the Chancellor been? et even after the Northern Rock disaster and bungled tax reforms, with mounting personal debt and a falling housing market, the only thing the Chancellor feels is wrong is the need for improved communications. This isn't an economic strategy, this is a sketch from Yes Minister."