Ministry of joy

Govt define happiness

SMILES BETTER: Hodge

By Amanda Evans, 12/10/2008

AS stock markets crash, banks fail and knife crime grips our streets the government has launched an urgent crackdown—on GLOOM!

The first salvo in this war on despair—and the ills currently crippling Britain—came from Minister of State Margaret Hodge this week as she delivered the Downing Street definition of HAPPINESS.

A Westminster insider said: “Sadsacks across the nation will be comforted that after much deliberation, and despite all the stress of this awful financial crisis, Gordon Brown’s team has found the vital time necessary to come up with their official view on public ‘wellbeing’. Apparently it’s a ‘positive physical, social and mental state’. Very useful!”

Culture Minister Hodge said her definition was now adopted right across government, adding helpfully: “It is not just the absence of pain, discomfort and incapacity.

"It requires that basic needs are met, that individuals have a sense of purpose, that they feel able to achieve important personal goals and participate in society.”

Mrs Hodge was responding to a written question by Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson querying the department’s view on “quality of life”.

Our insider said: “It just proves the old rule about ask a silly question. . .”

Your comments

Tell her from me to go to hell. Its her government that's caused most of the gloom in this country. They are a joke, as if we will take any notice her with her track record or anyonelse in this wretched, treacherous govt.

By Zordana. Posted ??????? 13 2008 at 12:09 AM.

USUAL PATHETIC NULABOUR RUBBISH

By EUDOXIA. Posted ??????? 12 2008 at 6:07 PM.

About time somebody started trying to chear up the moaning ,whingers in this country.
Start looking at the great things that this country offers and the great things about life...but i suppose it makes the miserable ones happy to moan and complain!
Life is to short to complain all the time ,no government or group or person is perfect, but YOU can make YOUR life happier if you want.

By Shaun in Nottingham. Posted ??????? 12 2008 at 9:37 AM.

The words Joy and Margaret Hodge do not have natural associations for me. When I see the words Margaret Hodge or the name of any other Government Minister I think more of Quangoes, freeloaders, petty rules, fines, bans, spy cameras, expense fiddles, Traffic Wardens, stealth taxes, lying, spin, speed cameras, self righteous preaching, arrogance, spiteful jobsworths and all the other nasty things they have done over the last ten years. There might be some joy when the whole ghastly band of them finally slink off to richly deserved obscurity.

By Simon. Posted ??????? 12 2008 at 5:48 AM.

margaret hodge? this the same margaret hodge, who was in charge at the time of one of the biggest child abuse scandals, then made minister for children [herod was 2nd choice] the very mention or sight of her sends a shiver through me.

By bacon butty. Posted ??????? 12 2008 at 12:21 AM.

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