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The Kost Of Konnie

January 23rd, 2008 by ThunderDragon

Chris Dillow makes an argument that Konnie Huq in her decade as a Blue Peter presenter has cost the economy around £3.9bn:

Mr Brown shouldn’t be thanking Konnie. He should be decrying the adverse effect she’s had upon the British economy.
The reason for this is simple. Anything that makes being out of work more pleasant encourages people to linger on benefits. And the sight of Ms Huq on daytime TV has just this effect. Why bother going out to work when you can stay home and look at her?…
The point: does this seem absurd? It shouldn’t. It’s merely the logical consequence of the assumption that people on benefits could work if they want to. Perhaps it’s this premise that’s wonky.

But Blue Peter doesn’t start until 5pm! It’s perfectly possible to work a full day and then watch Blue Peter, especially now that BBC iPlayer is up and running. Blaming Konnie Huq for the £3.9bn cost to the economy is rather unfair. She’s attractive, but not that attractive!

Many of the people on benefits could work if they wanted to. How else can so many immigrants find work? Because so many Britons aren’t doing them, preferring to sit on the dole. That premise is by no means wonky. The idea that Konnie Huq and Blue Peter persuaded them not to go to work is, though. That reason is down to benefits being too high.

UPDATE: Matt Sinclair also responds to Chris’ post.

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