Changes

==Opinions on Economics==

==Opinions on Economics==

In March 2012 Jones was interviewed on the political discussion program "This Week" and displayed a lack of knowledge of economic matters. He claimed that the Budget, by raising tax bands in line with inflation, and freeing low earners from tax altogether, would "hand Cabinet ministers £40,000 per year" because they were "millionaires". When the show host, Andrew O'Neil, queried this as only someone earning a million pounds per year would gain £40,000, Jones continued to prevaricate, bluster, waffle and say things like "It depends". He did not admit his error in confusing  £1 million net worth with £1 million per year earnings. He then asserted that all cabinet ministers should have to declare their incomes, only to be told by the show host that this was already the law. O'Neil turned to another guest, the veteran Labour advisor Alastair Campbell, to confirm it, which Campbell did, while the expression on his face indicated severe embarrassment. Some viewers possibly concluded that Jones was employed by ''The Guardian'' simply because he was homosexual, regardless of his competence.

In March 2012 Jones was interviewed on the political discussion program "This Week" and displayed a lack of knowledge of economic matters. He claimed that the Budget, by raising tax bands in line with inflation, and freeing low earners from tax altogether, would "hand Cabinet ministers £40,000 per year" because they were "millionaires". When the show host, Andrew O'Neil, queried this as only someone earning a million pounds per year would gain £40,000, Jones continued to prevaricate, bluster, waffle and say things like "It depends". He did not admit his error in confusing  £1 million net worth with £1 million per year earnings. He then asserted that all cabinet ministers should have to declare their incomes, only to be told by the show host that this was already the law. O'Neil turned to another guest, the veteran Labour advisor Alastair Campbell, to confirm it, which Campbell did, while the expression on his face indicated severe embarrassment. Some viewers possibly concluded that Jones was employed by ''The Guardian'' simply because he was homosexual, regardless of his competence.

<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSC3RMstJl8 </ref>

<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tSC3RMstJl8</ref>

Jones has written a succession of articles defending the record of the socialist government of Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. As Venezuela has lurched into more and more severe economic crisis, with government repression and high crime rates, Jones has never retreated from his position. Even when the inflation rate in Venezuela reached 13,000 per cent in February 2018, prompting a mass exodus of citizens, Jones continued to praise the success of the government's socialist policies.

Jones has written a succession of articles defending the record of the socialist government of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela. As Venezuela has lurched into more and more severe economic crisis, with government repression and high crime rates, Jones has never retreated from his position. Even when the inflation rate in Venezuela reached 13,000 per cent in February 2018, prompting a mass exodus of citizens, Jones continued to praise the success of the government's socialist policies.

<ref> https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/owen-jones-socialism-s-critics-look-at-venezuela-and-say-we-told-you-so-but-they-are-wrong-9155295.html</ref>

<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/owen-jones-socialism-s-critics-look-at-venezuela-and-say-we-told-you-so-but-they-are-wrong-9155295.html</ref>

<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/hugo-chavez-was-a-democrat-not-a-dictator-and-showed-a-progressive-alternative-to-neo-liberalism-is-8522329.html</ref>

<ref>https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/hugo-chavez-was-a-democrat-not-a-dictator-and-showed-a-progressive-alternative-to-neo-liberalism-is-8522329.html</ref>

<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/918564/venezuela-economy-weak-currency-inflation-banknotes-value-latest</ref>

<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/918564/venezuela-economy-weak-currency-inflation-banknotes-value-latest</ref>