IT’S the economy, stupid. After a decade as poet laureate celebrating royal weddings and birthdays, Andrew Motion has “dashed off” a final piece of verse as a critical response to Britain’s financial woes.

Despite being a Labour party member, Motion does little to spare the government’s blushes.

The poem begins: “Poor Alistair Darling’s new budget / Invites us to listen and judge it”. With its references to “pensions down the drain” and “dole figures sky high”, Motion has at last got to grips with what Middle England cares about most.

As parting shots go, it is to the point and brings to an end 10 difficult years as poet laureate. He will step down from his post on Thursday.

During his time in the role, Motion has been criticised by some for devoting his talent to royal poems which have commemorated the marriage of Prince Edward, Prince William’s 21st birthday and the death of the Queen Mother.

The poet admitted earlier this year that his ability to write poetry had been hampered by his official position and confessed that he had suffered from “writer’s block”.

This weekend, however, Motion appeared to be in full flow. “I wrote the 16 lines on Friday after hearing that Jonathan Dimbleby had wanted me to pen something for my appearance on his Any Questions [programme on Radio 4],” he said.

“I was lying in the bath and worked out what I might say and write. The budget and the state of the economy was the obvious thing to tackle.”

The poem has been broadcast but Motion insisted it was not a direct attack on Darling.

“I think in the very, very difficult circumstances, he has not done a bad job,” he said. “The fault for the mess is as much ours as the politicians.”

Motion’s new poem concludes with the suggestion that “the duty” of writing verse now falls to his successor, who will be announced by Downing Street this week.

It is thought Motion might favour Simon Armitage over Carol Ann Duffy, the two favourites to take on the role as poet laureate. However, he remained diplomatic yesterday: “I think either would be great.”

Good night, Darling

Andrew Motion’s last effort as poet laureate:

Poor Alistair Darling’s new budget
Invites us to listen and judge it
As though we’d agree it’s better to be
Au fait with hard truth and not fudge it.

But some difficult questions remain
When our pensions are all down the drain,
Dole figures sky high, debt figures awry
And high tax on what extras we gain.

Whose fault can we honestly say
Must it be for things being this way:
Banker pigs in the trough, MPs sure enough,
And ourselves, what role did we play?

I’ll just finish this short doggerel
With a personal comment as well.
The duty of writing lines sharp and exciting on this
It ain’t mine, but my heir’s as PL.

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