[Stuart]

Originally posted by towny
We could start by spending what we already have more wisely. Unreformed public services are a serious risk to this country's future prosperity - as were over-staffed, inefficient, nationalised heavy industries in the 1970s and 1980s.

Tory Blair at least recognises this. Sadly most of his party have not changed to 'suit the undercurrent of the times' as you put it, and want to bolster hopelessly inefficient working practices with ever increasing amounts of our hard-earned cash. Hence constant battles between 'new' and 'old' Labour.



If the Tories 18 years in office was so universally bad:

1. Why did they win three general elections, two of them (1983 and 1992) at times of great economic distress in the UK? And don't say it was The Sun wot won it, that's hopelessly simplistic.

I remember reading at the time of the recession in the late 80s and early 90s that the government knew that what they were doing (mainly allowing banks to provide mortgages) would cause massive economic problems. They carried on regardless, and we had a recession. I read this about 1987.

2. Why did the incoming Labour government in 1997 stick to Tory economic policy for almost two years after taking office? (I'll tell you the answer to that one - it's 'cos Tory policy was fundamentally sound and Labout knew the economy was in good shape).

Not because Tony Blair is a closet Tory then?

Do you really believe this country would be in better shape today if were still stuck with the National Coal Board, British Steel and the trade unions that suffocated them, and nationalised utilities including British Telecom? Would we even be using this forum if the 'communications revolution' had been left to that dinosaur?

No, we wouldn't generally be in better shape. There was a lot of wastage in the public sector.

However, we would have a more reliable, and less expensive (both in fares and subsidies) rail system. And I doubt the NHS would be the state it is now.

Based on this present government's current record, come the next election I intend to do my bit to try to find out.

Good for you!

Now there I agree with you completely. They're a bunch of Euro-sychophants who would sell us down the river to a Brussels-based Superstae quicker than you can say 'common economic policy'.

Unfortunately, the only things we know about the plans for europe are what the the government of the day (be they Tory or Labour) wanted us to know. Does anyone here understand the TRUE ramifications of the Maastricht treaty that was signed by the Government under John Major? I can't find a copy of the agreement to verify this, but one of the costs for what the government wanted was that the EU would have the right to veto any of our laws. I would take that to mean they can effectively overrule the government.

What, coalitions like the ones that have 'ruled' Italy for the last 50 years? Berlusconi is the first man to have run that country for more than about 18 months. Coalitions don't work. They just put disproportionate power into the hands of minority groups - like the Lib Dems.

True, coalitions don't work. What we need is an honest government that cares about it's voters. Sadly, none of our current political parties offer that.

Rubbish. Labour gave itself a fresh coat of paint but after 6 years it's flaking off. Tony is trying to hold it together by the force of his personality but it can't last much longer.

Labour copied the tories. Labour made the same or similar mistakes.