Gordon Brown: Crass and breathtaking

Moments to savour: Peer Steinbruck on Brown's response to the financial crisis:

Mr Steinbruck questioned why Britain was "tossing around billions" and closely following the high public spending model put forward by 20th Century economist John Maynard Keynes.

"The switch from decades of supply-side politics all the way to a crass Keynesianism is breathtaking," he said.

Two great words to sum up Gordon Brown and his policies - crass and breathtaking.

Of course, Brown's ministers have come to his defence, with that hideous Brownite cheerleader/troll Ed Balls in particular arguing that the comments are about German internal politics rather than what it is right to do. I'm not so sure about that; I rather think that - whatever the internal politics of Germany - Steinbruck has a point.

And it will be a point that hopefully more and more people start to understand, especially in this country. Rather than working an economic miracle, Brown is actually pushing the UK towards an economic catastrophe. He is propping up businesses and banks that have failed, at the same time as slashing at taxes randomly whilst raising others. This is the equivalent of an economic epileptic fit. And there is still no word on how this is all going to be paid for.

Yet, we actually know how it will be paid for. Taxes will go up, for everyone, at some point. It is the only way that Brown's abject insanity can be paid for. And that will further depress the economy, as people will have less money to spend. When the dust settles, and when Brown is eventually turfed from power, it may be too late - the UK will be saddled with a debt that cripples the economy and saddles future generations with a staggeringly awful tax burden.

Steinbruck is right, and his comments throw Brown's already dubious claims to be leading the world through this financial crisis into further disrepute. But the crucial point is the first one - Steinbruck is correct in his analysis, and the policies being pursued by Gordon Brown don't make sense.