UK Business minister Shriti Vadera, a close aide of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has raised hackles across the political spectrum by claiming that she saw some economic growth amidst a litany of job losses.
As reports poured in of thousands of job losses across various sectors, Vadera said on lunchtime television news Wednesday: "I am seeing a few green shoots but it's a little bit too early to say exactly how they'd grow".
The remarks were immediately criticised by Members of Parliament who alleged Brown's ministers were 'living on another planet' and were 'insensitive' to the plight of thousands of people who had lost their jobs in the current economic downturn.
Many were reminded of the 'green shoots' remark by Chancellor Norman Lamont in the John Major government, when he famously claimed in 1991 that he had detected "the green shoots of economic spring", during the economic downturn, which had provoked widespread criticism.
Gujarat-origin Vadera, 46, is known in the halls of Westminster for her tough, no-nonsense approach in negotiations to ensure the implementation of Brown's policies.
Alan Duncan, the shadow business secretary, said: "Shriti Vadera's comments go to show how out of touch and insensitive Gordon Brown's ministers are."
He said Vadera had "just advertised her own unsuitability for addressing the difficulties that the victims of Gordon Brown's recession are facing."