At PMQs today, Gordon Brown answered a question about G20 countries and the recession by saying:
“Spain is in the G20 now and is in recession.”
Quick as a flash Tory Bear posted an article demanding an apology from Brown after saying he “lied to the House”.
So who’s right? Our facts on growth were a bit old yesterday but we did say:
“Spain, who attend G20 meetings, are also still in recession.”
Spain is not a formal member, as TB noted, however they did attend the London and Washington summits (see pics) and would like to attend the G20 again as the EU’s rotating president in the first half of 2010.
43 Responses to “Spain, spin and the G20”
Shamik Das
RT @leftfootfwd: Spain, spin and the G20: http://tinyurl.com/Spain-G20 <— Your thoughts @guidofawkes & @torybear?
Tory Bear
So we are all in agreement then? Spain is not a member of the G20, however much they would like to be.
Brown should apologise for getting his facts wrong.
Tim Connor
I attended those meetings in my capacity as a translator. Am I in the G20?
Nick Osborne
According to Tory Bear’s logic, Cameron should apologise for misleading the House for saying Australia went into recession after the UK and came out before. Australia never went into recession and while it did have slightly lower growth, was always in positive growth.
Surely that is misleading, I’m sure Australian PM Kevin Rudd would have something to say about it. Or maybe Mr Cameron’s office can just update Wikipedia?
Costello
The reality is that Spain is not a member of the G20. Brown was either deliberately talking dishonest nonsense so that he could avoid dealing with the question put to him or – if we give him the benefit of the doubt – is simply embaressingly ignorant.