Well surprise surbleedinprise

[Grumpmeister]

Everyone's least favourite badget faved financial gimp has chickened out of the World Economics Forum claiming that most of the people he wanted to talk to aren't going. more like you were afraid that the rest of the people there would fall about laughing and the efforts of both you and Gordo to fuc er... fix the economy.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Alistair Darling has decided not to travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos.

"It was decided that as a number of the people he was due to meet had pulled out, his time would be better spent doing other things," a spokesman said.

The Treasury would not confirm which of his meetings had been cancelled.

Most of US President Barack Obama's new economic policymaking team decided not to travel to the Swiss ski resort, which may have disappointed Mr Darling.

BBC correspondent Bridget Kendall in Davos has ascertained that the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, is also not attending.

She said his evaluation was that the Davos summit is first and foremost about the economic crisis and it would not be the best use of his time.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown does still plan to attend the event and will be using it to lay the foundations for the G20 summit in Britain in April, according to his spokesman.

Among the US officials who pulled out are US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and President Obama's top economic adviser Lawrence Summers.

[Bar Wench]

Well to be honest really what is the point. I've always understood Davos to basically be a jolly for the higher ups to splash their cash around on the tech startups who slogged over from DLD. I am sure there is more to it than that but frankly how much "world good" comes from such a conference?

[Snoopy]

Frankly None!


"World Leaders" with the probable exceptions of Obama and Putin cannot make decisions ~ others negotiate for them and agreements are reached. Only then to the titular heads turn up for a splendid lunch and signing ceremony.
Events like Davos are indeed an extended jolly for politicos, journalists and business people.
The Business People are the ones who really count and they are simply there to make sure the politicos know it.

[Nick]

It gives Gordo a bigger stage on which to spout his bollox

World leaders must have the "confidence to act" to tackle the global recession, Gordon Brown has said.

[Bar Wench]

But is it really a stage from which he wishes to spout. Given that apparently this is "the" year to be skipping Davos. (Apart from the journos) I don't think a single politician from the US is actual there this year and we all know that regardless of how we might feel not a single decision can be made without them. Not that will be carried through at any rate. Gordon has just shown himself up by attending. He too should have had "better things to do"

[Snoopy]

Gordon is caught on the horns of a dilemma of his own making. One minute he claims to be saving the world and the next Shall I/Shan't I go to Davos?
Damned if he does and mocked if he doesn't.
Time he recognised this and got out but he has waited so long to become PM that he will not leave until forced to.