We are so, so, looking forward to this

The Labour-led Welsh government has committed to introduce “globally pioneering” legislation that would in effect make lying in politics there illegal.

Our general view is that governments rarely know what they’re doing - Hayek was right about information flows to the centre after all. But our specific view here is that they’ve no clue. It is, however, going to be hugely amusing proving this point.

So much so that if they actually carry this through then it will be worth moving to Wales in order to have standing to contest matters. Private prosecutions are allowed, of course they are, upon criminal matters. So, if political lying is a criminal matter private prosecutions may be brought.

Of course, “lie” has several definitions. Saying something that is untrue, saying something untrue that you should have known is untrue, saying something untrue that you know is untrue as one order of meanings.

But just think of the joy to be had here.

“Inequality is increasing” - no, the usual measure, the Gini, is lower than it was in 2008.

“Renewables are cheap” - have you even looked at the varied prices being paid under CfD and so on?

“Building more houses won’t make them cheaper” - What?

And so on. It's possible to be as cynical as we are and just assume that lips moving means lies being told. It’s also possible to be less realistic and assume that at least some of what is said could, perhaps, be true. But this new law will give us all the ability to take those making the statements to court, to get them to prove their claims.

Which will be most fun - for we don’t think that many such claims will survive the process. In fact, we’re really very certain that absolute truth telling will mean the death of politics.

Tim Worstall