Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow


by Sunny Hundal    
January 25, 2011 at 5:09 pm

The British Weather Services have today sent out a press release disputing the chancellor George Osborne’s claim that snow was to blame for the worsening GDP figures.

The press release states:

British Weather Services hold a daily historic database of UK weather for over 250 UK and Irish weather stations. The database provides details on all aspects of weather, from air temperature and wind speeds through to snow depths and sunshine.

Senior Risk Meteorologist Jim Dale says, “For every drop of rain or flake of snow, for every fall and rise in temperature there is a commensurate rise and fall in the demand and supply of the UK’s good and services. It’s our job to provide to companies big and small the very telling figures that link the weather numbers with what actually went on re performance.”

There is no doubt that the very severe conditions of late November and December would have impacted on UK plc – but there are two sides to every story, Jim explains. “Where there is a weather loser there tends to be a weather winner on the opposite end of the fence, so construction and high street shops may have had it bad for example, but retailers selling cold weather items such as winter clothing, motor factors and comfort foods would have done well out of the ice and snow, not to mention warm and inviting indoor shopping centres, many of which boasted record footfall figures during the period.

Indeed, recent financial reports from some of our biggest companies indicate a mixed pattern of returns, precisely what we would expect to see during a lengthy period of extreme weather”.

British Weather Services also point out that weather can only be partially responsible for the GDP fall, given that October and most of November “were reasonably benign weather-wise”.

How embarrassing for Osborne.


---------------------------
      


About the author
Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
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Reader comments


1. Richard

It was silly of him to blame the dip on the weather, although in fairness he was simply repeating what the ONS told him.

2. scandalousbill

It would seem to me that if the Tory led coalition or ONS wish to blame the weather, (Gideon has stated this as a *huge Factor”), they should be at least able to indicate how many trading days were lost and how that impacts over at least two months in the quarter where the weather had no impact.

I recall a few days of snow bound impacts, but no prolonged total shutdown and nothing comparable to the Great Ice Age or the Pakistani floods.

3. Leon

Have to say watching the clip of Osborne saying it was the weather looked a little desperate, like he couldn’t think of a better reason. No idea what his advisors are being paid for right now…

4. sally

I’m amazed he did not blame the weather on Gordon Brown.

5. Mulligrubs

Sally ” I’m amazed he didn’t blame the weather on Gordon Brown”

Amazing coincidence! I was about to post this very sentiment myself – But what happens if and when the weather improves and the economy continues to freeze? I bet Osborne’s advisers are working on that one right now -” Gordon Brown still casting a long shadow over the green shoots of recovery?” Yes they’ll buy that – it’s more convincing than – wrong kind of Chancellor.

6. Linda

Thank God for the Great British sense of humour or we’d all be a stiff as the brickies fingers in the snow.

7. Dark Heart of Toryland

Presumably, in the unlikely event that the economy manages to pick up by the summer, then Osborne will duly give the credit to the improved weather, rather than taking any credit for himself…

8. skooter

@1 Richard

You are probably right Richard, but does this not highlight that GO does not have an indepenedant thought in his head. His reponses are so carefully scripted if he is asked a question he is not sure of he just repeats the script which tends to make him look rather silly.

9. car down

I would like to know what the Tory Trolls have to say about this, as they seem to swarm all over the other pages.

10. the a&e charge nurse

The ‘Chauncey Gardner’ school of economics, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_B0sqowD6w&feature=related

11. Fungus

Richard is absaloutely right – read page 7 of the actual ONS report.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/pdfdir/gdp0111.pdf

The ONS report assumes a -0.5% reduction in GDP due to the weather, but as it is a preliminary report, as always the last month of the quarter in particular is purely an estimate.

What else is Osborne supposed to do except quote the source of the info?

Admittadly even allowing for the 0.5% the figures are still slightly worse than expected.

12. Ray North

The Coalition’s economic policy is a brainless ideologically driven shambles! Can I invite the readers of this website to check out Allthatsleft.co.uk if you are interested in this subject then you may enjoy the following –
http://www.allthatsleft.co.uk/2011/01/gideon-blames-the-weather/

13. Duncan McAlister

Don’t get too excited folks – have you not considered that the negative impact of thousands of cancelled orders, motorways and airports closed, building sites virtually abandoned for three weeks might just outweigh the positive effect of a few extra scarves and snow shovels? Would make sense, no?

14. Andreas Moser

Germany has had one of the hardest winters in 2010/2011, and its GDP grew at an impressive pace.

15. Fungus

@ 12 yes, a thorough in depth analysis why the spending cuts are obviously wrong. Like usual no mention of how the deficit will be cut or the crippling impact of our ever increasing interest bill.

16. Scooby

Germany has had one of the hardest winters in 2010/2011, and its GDP grew at an impressive pace.

Germans have grit. The British have demonstrated in recent years that they’ve lost all their grit. And I don’t mean the stuff you put down on the roads when it’s slippery.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Weather Services hit back at Osborne blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  2. Watching You

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  3. Toxx etc

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  4. Thom J.

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  8. sunny hundal

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  12. Hayley Moseley

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  13. James Ball

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  14. Moonbootica

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  15. Ma

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  16. Sky Pendle

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  17. Jane Calveley

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  18. Natacha Kennedy

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  19. Nick

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  20. Mavis Green

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  21. Amanda Ramsay

    British Weather Services issues press release disputing chancellor blaming snow for worsening GDP figures http://bit.ly/ejLSUQ @sunny_hundal

  22. sunny hundal

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  23. Broken OfBritain

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  24. Clay Harris

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  28. Mrs VB

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  29. Molly

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  30. Andrew Mitchell

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  31. Steve Chambers

    British Weather Services dispute George Osborne’s claim that snow was to blame for the worsening GDP figures. http://goo.gl/ds415

  32. Shrewmaus

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  33. Natalia

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://t.co/oXrwhE1 < I've certainly spend more money when it's cold (heating, food etc)

  34. Chris

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  35. Chris Hammond

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  37. Sally Bull

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  38. Sally Bull

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  39. Garry Chick-Mackay

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  40. Tudor Evans

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  41. Andy Bold

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  42. Melissa Harry

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  43. Bored London Gurl

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  44. Mary Horan

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  45. WestMonster

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  46. R Gordon

    RT @libcon Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://bit.ly/i2tXpT 'retailers selling cold weather items would have done well…'

  47. Pauline Hammerton

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  48. Edward Clarke

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  49. Simon Sayer

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  50. Catherine Ross

    RT @libcon Weather Services hit back at Osborne blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT [haha, take that, Osborne]

  51. Martin Crozier

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  52. Nicolas Chinardet

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  53. Joe Cassels

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  54. Press Not Sorry

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  55. TeresaMary

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  56. Jacob Richardson

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  57. Aled-Dilwyn Fisher

    RT @libcon: Weather Services hit back at Osborne blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  58. Sari B

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  59. Colin Waude

    RT @sunny_hundal: Hah! British Weather Services hit back at Osborne for blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  60. Pete Riches

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/w5hjXuX via @libcon Creepy Osborne to blame the disabled next?

  61. Wonko Grime

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  62. br bbbse

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  63. Jacob Richardson

    RT @libcon: Weather Services hit back at Osborne blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  64. Katie H

    RT @sunny_hundal: Hah! British Weather Services hit back at Osborne for blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  65. Jo

    RT @sunny_hundal: Hah! British Weather Services hit back at Osborne for blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  66. Christine Burns

    Brilliant. 'British Weather Services', which analyses weather vs demand, disputes George Osborne's claims http://bit.ly/gDGn22

  67. Miriam Said

    RT @sunny_hundal: Hah! British Weather Services hit back at Osborne for blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  68. Pat Raven

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/cpYScBP via @libcon

  69. Claireandian

    RT @libcon: Weather Services hit back at Osborne blaming the snow for his woes http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  70. Zoe Stavri

    Weather service release statement saying the contraction of the economy wasn't down to the weather. Sorry, Gideon. http://is.gd/UEgMOy

  71. Chris Townsend

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://goo.gl/ds415

  72. Emma Langman

    RT @townsendoutdoor: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://goo.gl/ds415

  73. UNISON East Midlands

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://is.gd/r5RmIH

  74. Richard Kermode

    RT @townsendoutdoor: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://goo.gl/ds415

  75. Ali B

    Osborne weather blaming wrong http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/01/25/weather-services-hit-back-at-osborne-blaming-the-snow-for-his-woes/

  76. Bristol Green Party

    Liberal Conspiracy: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://tinyurl.com/69epj25

  77. paulclift01

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/JRhXbg9 via @libcon

  78. Tony Dyer

    RT @bristolgreen: Liberal Conspiracy: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://tinyurl.com/69epj25

  79. Gary Stroud

    So Whats the Osborne's next excuse? RT @libcon: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://bit.ly/i2tXpT

  80. louise gittins

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/gRJE3P7 via @libcon

  81. joan stock

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  82. Richard Hesketh

    RT @jostock: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/JoFPGmv via @libcon

  83. Dr. Roy Schestowitz

    ? @satipera British weather forecasters criticise Osborne for blaming snow for 0.5% fall in GDP. http://ur1.ca/30en2 #leavesontheline

  84. Caitlin Bisknell

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/7XqUeRm via @libcon

  85. Amanda Ramsay

    Come on Cameron #PMQs British Weather Services disputed chancellor blaming snow for worsening GDP figures yesterday http://bit.ly/ejLSUQ

  86. Christian Carrillo

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://t.co/FeAaoQo via @libcon disaster and Blackadder's Prince Regent as Chancellor…

  87. Rocky Hamster

    Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/qH0JYo9 via @libcon

  88. Andrew Beesley

    http://bit.ly/eEZtg2 – Weathermen aren't buying Osborne's 'pin the blame on the weather' trick on GDP figures.

  89. Clarebella

    RT @Rockythehamster: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow | Liberal Conspiracy http://t.co/qH0JYo9 via @libcon

  90. L DTUC

    RT @UNISONEastMids: Weathermen hit back at Osborne blaming snow http://is.gd/r5RmIH

  91. Mark Worgan

    Weathermen hit back at George 'C'est La Vie' Osborne http://bit.ly/gXWseT #osborneexcuses





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