Fears that the Civil Service has been politicised under the Progressive Labour Party over the last 14 years were somewhat dispelled on Wednesday.That’s because no political operation worth its salt would have admitted that ten percent of working age Bermudians are unemployed on the same day as the Premier’s speech to her party’s delegates.Indeed, the unemployment report, which also reported that one in four Bermudians are unemployed or underemployed, and that 36 percent of young people are jobless, overshadowed the speech at the Progressive Labour Party conference.To be sure, Ms Cox did announce some plans for economic recovery, including plans to refurbish Government buildings, but there was no explanation of how even that would be paid for.Ms Cox continues to be hampered by the realities of her term in office, and made the following admission: “It is far too difficult to find jobs, the cost of living is high, gang violence is a problem among our youth.”That’s not an easy record to run on.Indeed, this election, which she has now stated will take place by the end of the year, will be fought on the economy and crime and the winner should be the party that as the best plan to deal with these problems.Part of the problem for the PLP is that it refuses to admit that the economy is in terrible shape.Ms Cox said the “economy is still recovering”, but there has been precious little of that.If retail sales have inched up, it is not preventing shop closures. Overall jobless figures have doubled to eight percent since 2009.And Government’s own statistics show that at least 1,000 non-Bermudians have left the workforce and the Island, further gutting the economy.Nonetheless, the PLP has no choice but to run on its record, and the basic strategy is now clear.One the one hand it will point to social achievements like house construction, FutureCare, increases in benefits for seniors, free bus fares for students and economic empowerment zones.Ms Cox claimed all of this happened in the recession, but in fact many of these programmes happened before the recession set in and now contribute to the record deficits that Government has run.Ms Cox characterised that spending as investment in people, and some are. But while that money was being spent, the economy and tax base needed to fund them were shrinking and Government has come very late to the job creation party.Infrastructure projects which could have preserved employment were needed two years ago, but were not in place, and the money needed to build them is not there either.So while the PLP can take credit for these programmes, they have come at a cost.The other prong of the PLP strategy is to paint the One Bermuda Alliance as the United Bermuda Party in new colours, and to claim it has no interest in the needs of most Bermudians.It has also gained some traction with the idea that the OBA has not produced any ideas. This is somewhat unfair, but the OBA is holding back on some plans.Ms Cox also repeated the claim that the choice for voters is between austerity (OBA) and investment (PLP).This is a false premise. Whoever wins the next election has to get the Budget under control, and both parties know it. But they also have to spend money and invest to get the economy going.Whoever wins has to be a party of prudent spending and wise investment. The voters will have to decide who that is.