The "Micawber rule " for financial

happiness or financial misery is one the current Prime Minister and Treasurer seem never to have come across.

For the few among you who did not study David Copperfield at school and have not come across the often quoted words here they are, 

 "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds nought and six, result misery."

Or perhaps they have come across the rule and refuse to believe it. They believe, again Micawber style, "something will turn up". I am not sure what that "something" could possibly be but perhaps they believe it.

I doubt anyone else believes either man is the little eccentric but kindly man that Micawber is portrayed as being. Both men are politicians and power is important to them. They want to stay in power. They both have a lot to lose. 

The way the Labor Party works it is now difficult to dislodge a Prime Minister they have chosen. It would not be impossible but it would be difficult. That he needs to be removed must be becoming increasingly obvious. We are not due to have an election before May 2028 but another interest rate rise has not helped the slump in popularity. If, although this now seems less likely, there was another rate rise before Christmas it would cause even more problems. Add in a long hot summer with high power and fuel prices and the problems for the government could get even more serious. The popularity of a certain fire brand red head would not help.

It was therefore interesting to see that the other minor and more far left party has just chosen someone who appears to be more moderate when facing the media. His manner is less controversial and less emotional than that of two colleagues who put their hands up in hope of taking on the role. Clearly there is a belief this might work in their favour. The party is saying the "right" things about "climate change" and "global warming". It is all some people want to hear. At very least it means they are likely to retain their voter base. 

Daylight saving starts this Sunday. Parliament will not be sitting over summer. If there is another rise in conflict or a natural disaster somewhere else in the world and blame for that sixpence extra in expenditure can be placed on that the government may yet get another term. We will get more financial misery.