© Matthew Buck at Hack Cartoons

In the wake of the catastrophic flooding in south west and southern England during January and early February here’s a very useful fisking of the government’s claims about maintained and uncut spending on flood prevention at the FT (registration required).

The cartoon was originally drawn in 2007 during the last great floods and in it I attempted to draw attention to the paradox in HMG’s attention depending upon where the victims of flooding lived.

Serious flooding on the Thames and in the ‘Greater South East’ isn’t dismissable for any government because it is too easy for the, er, mainstream media to reach it.

 Updated – 13th February 2014: That’s why there are SO many pictures of politicians and broadcast television presenters standing in deep puddles presently.