The 2010 General Election Thread: Week 2

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Chris

Seriously, is that what you're reduced to?

Well in the absence of anything much to boast about since 1997, apparently it is.....

Surely it's a valid point that because the Tories supported deregulation that under their governance the same thing would have happened?

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Flyboy

It can't be had both ways. The Tories either criticise plans made whilst they were in power and admit they were wrong, or cut the hypocrisy.

I seem to recall the regulations were changed after 97, when the BoE was given the task of controlling inflation and interest rates.

Originally Posted by Flyboy

It can't be had both ways. The Tories either criticise plans made whilst they were in power and admit they were wrong, or cut the hypocrisy.

That statement may come back to haunt you.....

btw, I think de-regulation went to far, and said so at the time.

Anyhoo, back to the sock puppet Headmasters......

Loved the line on their site (their "About" page)

a 'report card' on recent reform commissioned for the launch event argues there is much to celebrate in the reforms and their intent since 1997 but that the next phase of continuing change needs to be driven by practitioners, government and local communities in partnership.

Could they really get their heads much further up the Labour Party's derriere?

[Xaccers]

Originally Posted by Damien

Surely it's a valid point that because the Tories supported deregulation that under their governance the same thing would have happened?

The devil is in the detail.
Two parties can support deregulation, but they can have different ideas of what that actually means.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Damien

Surely it's a valid point that because the Tories supported deregulation that under their governance the same thing would have happened?

Well that'd depend on how they implemented, monitored and refined that policy wouldn't it?

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Osem

Well in the absence of anything much to shout about since 1997, apparently it is.....

It's a baby step on from endlessly bringing up Thatcher and Ashcroft I suppose.

Anyway it's nice to see some prospective MP's think the police have nothing better to do than investigate some urine extraction on the internet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/elec...eo-attack.html

A Conservative parliamentary candidate who was the target of a four-letter outburst on a YouTube video featuring an actor playing Adolf Hitler has called in the police.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Derek S

It's a baby step on from endlessly bringing up Thatcher and Ashcroft I suppose. Anyway it's nice to see some prospective MP's think the police have nothing better to do than investigate some urine extraction on the internet.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/elec...eo-attack.html

Yes I suppose... Still after 13 years you'd have thought there'd be something positive in their track record to campaign about. Maybe we're just not hearing it or maybe they have better things to do.......

Originally Posted by Osem

Yes I suppose... Still after 13 years you'd have thought there'd be something positive in their track record to campaign about. Maybe we're just not hearing it....

But........

Things can only get better!

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Osem

Still after 13 years you'd have thought there'd be something positive in their track record to campaign about. Maybe we're just not hearing it or maybe they have better things to do.......

They have. They've abolished boom and bust, sorted out the sleaze in government, given large increases to the military every year etc. etc.

Originally Posted by Osem

Yes I suppose... Still after 13 years you'd have thought there'd be something positive in their track record to campaign about. Maybe we're just not hearing it....

Would be quite interested to see a list of achievements. I suppose successfully seeing though the NI peace process, increased rights for gay couples, modern apprenticeships seem to have been a success, NHS Direct and walk-in centres, The EMA allowance, Were the Child Tax Credits/Trust fund their idea? if so that, I still remember when Museums were not free, Minimum wage?, also I not sure if they did the free bus passes/tv licences for the elderly I think they did.

I wouldn't vote for them for the reasons mentioned before (I.E Massive erosion of Civil Liberties).

I agree, Damien, it would - I wonder why they haven't?

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Derek S

They have. They've abolished boom and bust, sorted out the sleaze in government, given large increases to the military every year etc. etc.

Oh that's right - I forgot about all that....

To be fair, they've also sorted out crime, immigration, child poverty and done soooooo much for national security - must give them credit for that.....

[Flyboy]

Originally Posted by Damien

Would be quite interested to see a list of achievements. I suppose successfully seeing though the NI peace process, increased rights for gay couples, modern apprenticeships seem to have been a success, NHS Direct and walk-in centres, The EMA allowance, Were the Child Tax Credits/Trust fund their idea? if so that, I still remember when Museums were not free, Minimum wage?, also I not sure if they did the free bus passes/tv licences for the elderly I think they did.

I wouldn't vote for them for the reasons mentioned before (I.E Massive erosion of Civil Liberties).

How about:

* Introduced a smoking ban in all enclosed spaces including pubs, restaurants and offices.

* Abolition of section 28.

* Relative Peace in Northern Ireland.

* A vastly improved NHS service

* Lowest UK murder rate for over 20 years

* Civil partnerships

* 14,000 more police officers on the streets

* Free bus travel nationwide for the over 60s

* Free NHS prescriptions and eye sight tests for the over 60s

* Scrapped the majority of hereditary peers in the House of Lords

* Debt of poor countries written off

* Matrons are back !

* Cancer death rates down by 14 per cent

* Devolved power to Scotland

* Paid paternity leave for dads for the first time

* Abolition of anti-discrimination legisilation.

* Ban on fox hunting and hunting with hounds of deer, hares, mink and organised hare coursing.

* 24 hour drinking laws, sale of alcohol on a Sunday

* Tax-free Winter Fuel Payment to every pensioner household.

* Free central heating for everyone receiving Pension Credit. Environmental legisilation.

* 36,000 more teachers than in 1997, 172,000 more classroom assistants

* Restored London Government

* Introduced statutory rights for union recognition. Part-time workers have the same rights as full-time workers thanks to Labour.

* Free TV licenses for over 75s

* Fur farming banned

* Free breast cancer screening for those 50-70

* The cleanest beaches, rivers, drinking water and air than at any time since before the industrial revolution.

* Paid maternity leave increased to 52 weeks

* Number of apprenticeships doubled

* 1,100 new schools built or old schools rebuilt good

* Record numbers in further and higher education

* Fewer working days lost due to industrial action than under the previous government

* Equal rights for agency workers (pay, holidays etc)

* Everyone over 60 free access to local swimming pools

* Devolved power to Wales

* There are more police on our streets than ever before, up 14,000 since 1997

* Gay adoption

* Child Benefit increased by 26% since 1997

* Everyone now has the legal right to four week’s paid holiday.

* The largest hospital building programme since the NHS began: 149 hospitals built or being built, the Tories built one.

* Police pay up 27% in real terms

* Changes to Vehicle Excise Duty - sales of low-emission cars now outstrips gas guzzlers

* Tax free personal allowances for pensioners now at least £9,030.

* There are 85,000 more nurses and 32,000 more doctors in the NHS than in 1997.

* Nurses pay increased by 58%

* Record number of NHS operations

* Free bus travel for disabled people.

* The minimum wage.

Now I am sure there are many self-interested people who will not agree that all these things have been a success, but not a bad list really.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

I agree, Damien, it would - I wonder why they haven't?

Well I'd guess that condensing all that success into a manageable form is taking longer than expected...