On the 25th September I blogged that the Labour Government would sign a number of contracts at the 11th hour, which would prove to be poor value. “I suspect we will see a surge in last minute Government contracts being signed early next year before the General Election”. So it is little surprise to hear today their announcement of £11 billion of new IT contracts. As David Blackburn writes in the Spectator online:
“An £11bn bender is irresponsible in this climate, plus Labour has a baleful record on IT contracts. It has bungled a staggering £26bn on flawed IT systems, many of which were introduced without pilot schemes. Ever the optimist, I’d hoped the government might become responsible; yet again I’ve been mugged by the reality of Brown. Rushing implementation is a concern. These latest programmes are for the most part extensions of the failed NHS and MoD super-computer systems; will they be any more effective than their predecessors?
But this episode speaks more of the government’s mindset. Whatever the question, Brown’s answer is to throw good money after bad. It is scarcely credible that he can reduce the deficit within four years.
After years of wasteful spending (which Labour spin calls prudent investment), Gordon Brown cannot give up his addiction to spending our cash. Do you believe rushed contracts on IT systems, most of which have a disastrous track record, are going to be a good way of spending money we do not have (paid for with extra borrowing?). For those who say they will not bother to vote, or indulge in a protest vote, are you happy to go on like this for another five years with Gordon Brown wasting our cash?
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