So Britain has avoided, pro tem, triple dip recession. The economy grew marginally in the first quarter of the year, providing a bit of much needed good news for the lachrymose Chancellor, George Osborne. The figures aren't actually that comforting when looked at closely: manufacturing declined again, and the sectors spurring growth were North Sea oil and service industries. Nevertheless the economy grew, which is biggish news.
You wouldn't know it listening to The World At One. It was after twenty past when WATO got round to noticing this story, and when it did it was to wheel on an amiable old gent with a failing spectacle manufacturing business in Blackburn. Just in case anyone might have thought the figures were good. And after him, airtime for Ed Balls.
It's worth considering how this might have played if the figures had been different. Then, Britain's first recorded triple dip would have been the lead item. As it was, the lead was an extended discussion, with two studio guests, of a new Royal Charter scheme dreamed up by the newspaper industry as a rival to Parliament's own. Not that any newspapers have actually signed up to this parallel scheme, mind. But a story about the media is obviously much more important than something which might have been construed as good news for the Government.
As for Ed Balls, the bellicose shadow Chancellor was given space to say, eventually, what his alternative strategy would be. It involved a temporary tax cut and other sweeteners.
The presenter didn't ask the obvious question, which was how all this would be paid for.
And so wearingly on from the Corporation.
