Stuart Broad is a shit bloke

Christ, not only does he not walk after nicking off, not only does he have the lack of common decency to notice that Saeed Ajmal was chucking the ball, but now he has gone ahead and said that earning minimum wage in the UK puts you in the top 10% of global earners. Has he no shame?

That Guardian article is a beaut by the way. Here's the tweet in all its glory:

I've heard if you earn minimum wage in England you're in the top 10% earners in the World. #stay #humble

And here's the headline in the Guardian.

Stuart Broad tells those on minimum wage to ‘stay humble’

The article goes on to complain about the level of school fees at the school Broad went to a decade ago. Trololol. Anyway, if mean-spirited point-missing isn't your bag, how about some de haut en bas condescension from someone with a proper economics background? Zoe Williams is on it:

The central mystery surrounding Stuart Broad’s sanctimonious Twitter activity (he has since apologised) is how he came to be a cricketer. You would think someone with poor numeracy would be better suited to a sport like football.

Two quick points on numeracy then. First, a fulltime job on the minimum wage pays £13,520 (on the basis of a 40 hour week). Net of tax that leaves you with £12,148.32. Using this tool, that puts you roughly in the top 7% of global earners. So Broad is, unarguably, right on the point he's making. Second (and cheaply):

The minimum wage in Gabon is £3,672, or a bit over a third of our £13,500.

 A third of £13,500 is £4,500. You know, while we're talking about numeracy.


Anyway, Zoe stampedes off to show that Broad is wrong, hopelessly vindictively wrong, on a series of points that he wasn't making (the impact of PPP; something to with unemployment etc) and concludes with this, which, if it's about Stuart Broad really does seem a bit of a stretch:

I suppose what I find astonishing is the centuries-old tenacity of this myth, that there are poor people out there, taking the piss, enjoying their leisure, scoffing at the world of work, laughing at the honest taxpayers who keep the wolf from their door.

It's a good effort to get all the way there from what was little more than a Christmas cracker "amazing facts" tweet from a right-arm fast medium bowler.

Weaponising the NHS

Labour manifesto 1950 

They voted against the second and third readings of the National Health Service Bill... Can these Conservatives be trusted to safeguard the welfare of the sick, the poor and the old? 

Labour manifesto 1959

The creation of the National Health Service was opposed by the Tories. Since they took office they have starved the Service of money.

Labour manifesto 1964

The National Health Service was among the foremost achievements of the 1945-50 Labour Government. Since then it has been starved of resources and has failed to adapt sufficiently to modern needs.

Labour manifesto 1970

The greatest single achievement of the post-war Labour Government was its creation of the best universal social security system and the first comprehensive health service in the world. The greatest single condemnation of Tory rule was the appalling neglect of this social programme.

Labour manifesto 1974 (October)

Labour created the National Health Service and is determined to defend it. Immense damage has been done to it by Tory cuts in public expenditure.

Labour manifesto 1979

We reject Tory plans to create two health services: one for the rich, financed by private insurance with a second-class service for the rest of us.

Labour manifesto 1983

The creation of the National Health Service is one of the greatest achievements of the Labour Party. It now faces a double threat from the Tories: a lack of resources for decent health care; and the active encouragement of private practice.

Labour manifesto 1987

Labour's proudest achievement is the creation of the National Health Service. The Conservatives voted against it then. All who use and value the service know only too well how it has been neglected and downgraded by today's Tories.

Labour manifesto 1992

This election will decide the future of the NHS. Indeed, it will decide whether or not we continue to have a NHS of the kind that the British people want. The Conservatives would continue to commercialise and privatise the NHS until it is run as just another business.

Labour manifesto 1997 

Labour created the NHS 50 years ago. It is under threat from the Conservatives. We want to save and modernise the NHS. But if the Conservatives are elected again there may well not be an NHS in five years' time - neither national nor comprehensive.

Labour manifesto 2005

Healthcare is too precious to be left to chance, too central to life chances to be left to your wealth. Access to treatment should be based on your clinical need not on your ability to pay. This means defeating those who would dismantle the NHS.

Labour manifesto 2010

The Tories will not introduce the necessary reforms, would fail to guarantee access to services, usher in a care postcode lottery, and put the interests of patients second.