Want to know the most interesting thing about the admitted rise in the Olympic budget? (There are other rises, too, but Tessa Jowell won't admit them, and is hoping we won't notice) .
All is explained in this BBC Q&A
£400 million of the amount they've gone over budget with is to pay for a "delivery partner" - a firm who will ensure they don't go further over budget.
I can't quite get my head round that - but I've decided I'd like to be a delivery partner too. Pay me £400 million and I'll explain to you how you could have saved it. But don't expect your money back.
Wednesday 22 November 2006
Seven Billion plus VAT
The papers were saying the cost of the Olympics could be 8 billion. Tessa Jowell admitted costs were rising, but said they would be "only" 3.3 billion.
A 4.7 billion disparity. Which figure is right?
Today's Times suggests that they both are, sort of.
Tessa's 3.3 billion doesn't include the security costs, or the billion for "regeneration" (which means building a load of flats and facilities for the athletes, some of which with luck will be usable afterwards.)
These costs bring her 3.3 up to 7 billion.
And then there is VAT on top of that.
A 4.7 billion disparity. Which figure is right?
Today's Times suggests that they both are, sort of.
Tessa's 3.3 billion doesn't include the security costs, or the billion for "regeneration" (which means building a load of flats and facilities for the athletes, some of which with luck will be usable afterwards.)
These costs bring her 3.3 up to 7 billion.
And then there is VAT on top of that.
Tuesday 21 November 2006
Going up - officially
I've recently reported speculation about the cost of the Games going as high as £8 billion - even more than the whole wretched war for a fortnight's preening by athletes.
Those speculative figures are contested by the Government that is trying to keep this terrible thing under control, of course.
But now even the Government's official estimates are rocketing. Poor Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary (I like the idea that synchronised swimming is culture!) had to admit to the Commons that the bill has gone up by 900 million - and that doesn't include security costs, which since 7/7 have rocketed.
"The extra £900m cost was likely to be met by London council tax payers and lottery funds, Ms Jowell suggested."
The original budget included a contribution of £625m from London council tax payers - which works out at £20 a year for 25 years - and £1.5bn from Lottery games.
How much more will the sporty quango incompetents try to screw out of the people of Britain?
These were the people who gave you the millennium dome remember. Or no - hang on a bit - it was we who gave these thickos the money to squander on that useless tent. The only hope for which is that it will cause more poverty, grief and corruption by becoming a super-casino, thanks to a dodgy deal with Prescott...
Those speculative figures are contested by the Government that is trying to keep this terrible thing under control, of course.
But now even the Government's official estimates are rocketing. Poor Tessa Jowell, the Culture Secretary (I like the idea that synchronised swimming is culture!) had to admit to the Commons that the bill has gone up by 900 million - and that doesn't include security costs, which since 7/7 have rocketed.
"The extra £900m cost was likely to be met by London council tax payers and lottery funds, Ms Jowell suggested."
The original budget included a contribution of £625m from London council tax payers - which works out at £20 a year for 25 years - and £1.5bn from Lottery games.
How much more will the sporty quango incompetents try to screw out of the people of Britain?
These were the people who gave you the millennium dome remember. Or no - hang on a bit - it was we who gave these thickos the money to squander on that useless tent. The only hope for which is that it will cause more poverty, grief and corruption by becoming a super-casino, thanks to a dodgy deal with Prescott...
Monday 20 November 2006
Let's get this thing in proportion
Some of my previous comments on this blog may have seemed a bit excessive and ranty.
I apologise.
Let's put the Olympics in proportion.
Yesterday's estimate of £8billion for the cost of the Games is not so much when you put it in context.
The Iraq War has so far cost Britain's taxpayers 7 billion.
I'm pondering hard - which is better value -7 billion for causing untold death and distress, destabilising the Middle East and inspiring terrorism in Britain.
Or 8 billion for a fortnight's running, jumping and synchronised swimming.
It's a bit hard to decide.
I apologise.
Let's put the Olympics in proportion.
Yesterday's estimate of £8billion for the cost of the Games is not so much when you put it in context.
The Iraq War has so far cost Britain's taxpayers 7 billion.
I'm pondering hard - which is better value -7 billion for causing untold death and distress, destabilising the Middle East and inspiring terrorism in Britain.
Or 8 billion for a fortnight's running, jumping and synchronised swimming.
It's a bit hard to decide.
Sunday 19 November 2006
Going up!
With a possible final bill of £8bn London's 2012 Olympics could be the most costly sports event ever.
Read about the latest estimate - 8 billion of our money.
That's three billion up on last week.
What will next week's figure be?
Where will we have got to by 2012?
It's not too late to hand the whole farrago back to the French.
Read about the latest estimate - 8 billion of our money.
That's three billion up on last week.
What will next week's figure be?
Where will we have got to by 2012?
It's not too late to hand the whole farrago back to the French.
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