It all adds up

Philip Johnston in the Times says the knife crime figures scandal shows that "you can never believe a Labour statistic". People in the government don't seem to realise how counter-productive it is to acquire this kind of reputation for spin. Apparently, having briefed the media:

suspicions were aroused when the Home Office refused to publish the detailed statistics, bizarrely citing "police confidentiality".

The truth soon emerged: the official statisticians did not want any figures released because they were incomplete and had not been subject to proper methodological scrutiny.

Obviously, this raises further questions about arresting people for leaking - at the Home Office. Labour leaks when it suits it and then gets on its high horse about national security, confidentiality and the workings of government when that suits it instead.