Is Ed Miliband living on borrowed time?

First topic message reminder :

Tonight’s YouGov poll for the Sun has topline figures of CON 41%, LAB 39%, LDEM 10%, Others 10%. This is the first time that YouGov have shown a Conservative lead since December 2010. It certainly looks as though the Conservatives have recieved a boost from David Cameron’s veto at the European summit. There is also a new ComRes poll out tonight for the Independent which has topline figures of CON 38%(+1), LAB 38%(-1), LDEM 12%(+2) – also showing the two main parties effectively neck-and-neck. How is it that the tories can be level or ahead in the polls when they are having to make some very difficult and painfull decisions to try and bring down the deficit, the umemployment figures are the worst for 17 years. We have had strikes, pension reforms, VAT rises and the veto in Europe etc.......

It looks like Ed Millaband is not liked or trusted by many of the elecorate. In my opinion he looks weak, sounds weak and has no policies to speak of....Everytime he tries to get the better of Cameron in PMQ'S he ends looking like a fool with Cameron destroying him. Ed Balls is no better...he comes across as an odious man with no substance, who would probably stab his own wife in the back if it meant he gained more power.

Labour missed a trick in not voting in Eds brother David into the leadership role. David would have given Cameron a better run for his money and I believe he is a better politician than Ed too. With the two Eds at the helm I believe Labour are not a viable opposition right now and one or both could be dispatched by the party sooner rather than later

Ivan....Good post and I wish this was true......but both Labour and Tory governments have failed on the something for nothing culture.

The gap between rich and poor grew under Nu Labour, so I don't have faith anything would change when they come back into power. Both ends of the spectrum need to be addressed and fast and by that I mean benefit scroungers and big companies who manage to pay a fraction of the taxes they should pay. Who is finally going to fight for us? By us I mean the working and middle classes. I haven't heard any credible ideas or policies from any party to address these issues...only the usual soundbites.

In his interview with John Humphreys on the Today programme, Ed Milliband revealed that his 2012 plans would involve greater fairness.

He wasn't allowed to get away with that. Maybe he should have added Mom and Apple Pie to the mix.

LWS. Of those who put their hat in the ring for leadership of the Labour Party, my first choice was David Miliband, that said I dont feel we now have an inferior leader as both Brothers are equally able just different.
People say that Edd is lacklustre and needs to show himself better, particularly at PMQ’s, I strongly disagree with this theory, I think Edd Miliband has the beating of Herr Cameron hands down, you only have to see which of the two gets personal, nasty and gets out of his pram, its not Edd, but Herr Cameron.
What was the last time Herr Cameron answered a direct Question from Edd. To compare the two IMHO is doing a great disservice to Edd, He will never come across as polished as Herr Cameron as he hasn’t the PR or Eton background of Herr Cameron and leads the Party through conviction rather than the Tory belief in their right to rule, he will never come across as being as nasty as Herr Cameron, simply because he isn’t as nasty, and as far as he is concerned is trying to rid us of the Punch and Judy politics, Herr Cameron promised in the lead up to his taking over leadership of the Tory party.
So far as Edd Miliband having no idea's is as inaccurate as saying Herr Cameron cares for the working/middle classes. It is all but impossible for him to write any policies as firstly he/we has no idea what sort of a mess we are going to inherit from the previous Government, every target made by Herr Cameron and his truly lacklustre Chancellor Gideon has had to be degraded or re written for reasons like, they are simply Illegal or just wont work, are are put right by Labour. If targets weren’t met by Gordon Brown he was completely vilified by the Tory’s and their media machine, and everything was Browns fault, but when Herr Cameron and Gideon's fire is miles off target it because the snow’s too cold, the rains too wet, the Suns too hot or someone sneezed in New Zealand, and now in power and in the drivers seat they are blaming the Global issue, There is a global problem when its them that’s phucking up, but of course there was no Global Credit Crunch to blame when Brown was in charge, it according to them was all the previous Governments fault.
So as far as I am concerned I think Edd is Growing into the job nicely (in both senses of the word), and to coin a phrase “Things can only get better”.

Even if Ed is not the answer to unseating Cameron's Unholy Coalition, he is a step on the road to so doing. Most people recognise that whatever Ed ( or indeed any Labour politician) does - and however good it may be - will be roundly rubbished by the Tory-influenced obedient media so that road will be tough and long.

I am not especially enthusiastic about Miliband and still less about Labour itself, but we need something and somebody, first to destabilise the ugly and dangerous Conservative machine , and then to defeat it. Whatever it takes will be fine with me. We'll worry about the exact replacement political complexion later....

"we need something and somebody, first to destabilise the ugly and dangerous Conservative machine"

Seconded. First bell the cat.

Any mouse will do....

In his keynote speech today, Ed Millaband said that Labour had to be prepared to inherit a continuing deficit in the public finances if it succeeded in regaining power at the next general election, expected in 2015.

"It means that the Blair/Brown approach will not be enough," said Mr Miliband. "Each time New Labour won an election, it won at a time when business was prospering. Next time we come back to power, it will be different. We will be handed a deficit. We will have to make difficult choices that all of us wish we did not have to make.

Hmmmm this is what the coalition have said from the get-go and the kinda language all you Labour people have been spitting feathers over. So I take it you will all be supporting another party now?

Bluey. All Edd Miliband is saying is, that there will have to be some austerity measures, this is nothing new as he has said that all along. The difference between the two opposing camps are the speed and depth of the cuts, and policies for growth, which at present we dont seem to have.

We're facing an uncertain future if Politicians are going to start telling us the truth.

LOL...OW.....Yes I have to agree, but once in a while would nice

bobby wrote:Bluey. All Edd Miliband is saying is, that there will have to be some austerity measures, this is nothing new as he has said that all along. The difference between the two opposing camps are the speed and depth of the cuts, and policies for growth, which at present we dont seem to have.

I watched and listened today 10/1/2012 to Ed Miliband his speech in its entirety, I was one of those in doubt about his capability to do the job "NO MORE" after todays speech if he carries on in the same vein Labour will have a juggernaut to drive through the opposition, he also had a Q & A session after his speech and "the man done well" there where Trip Up questions but he handled himself well there too, did anybody on this forum see this speech its was on BBC news 24 and Sky news.

I saw the event and I agree that Ed did a far better job - and in a far better 'tone' - than the Tory vultures would have found comfortable.

Add the fact that Cameron is making a very large error in taking on Alex Salmond ( a far smarter and equally dirty fighter) head to head, and the future could look a little choppy for our Prime Minister. And not before time.

How awful it would be if Miliband could find a crafty way of stirring the bubbling Cameron-v- Salmond pot while staying carefully out of the way of the flying fur...

Phil Hornby wrote:I saw the event and I agree that Ed did a far better job - and in a far better 'tone' - than the Tory vultures would have found comfortable.

Add the fact that Cameron is making a very large error in taking on Alex Salmond ( a far smarter and equally dirty fighter) head to head, and the future could look a little choppy for our Prime Minister. And not before time.

How awful it would be if Miliband could find a crafty way of stirring the bubbling Cameron-v- Salmond pot while staying carefully out of the way of the flying fur...

Im glad you watched too Phil Hornby and you came up with the same conclusion as myself I think it was the tone that changed the whole speech I hope the found it unbearably uncomfortable and hoped they squirmed in agony as Ed stood there giving them food for thought Well done Ed.

I would not be so sure about the fight between Cameron and Salmond the PM will be out too win this argument, if he looses he will loose face and be know as the PM that lost to Salmond not a good achievement too put on a CV, Cameron is hated up here and Salmond knows it so he is hoping that Cameron sticks his nose in knowing that will drive the Scottish people too vote YES in the referendum so I don't think Cameron is that stupid.

I don't think Cameron is that stupid..

I wouldn't be so sure. A man who is daft enough to think that it's funny and acceptable to make jibes which include a reference to Tourettes is not that bright.

If I lived in Scotland, I could be tempted to vote for independence. Scotland could survive in the EU if a small country such as Luxembourg can. Scotland would not be a net contributor to the EU and would get more out than it put in. And above all, there would be no more rule by a Tory Party in Westminster which hasn't managed to win more than one seat in Scotland in the last four general elections.

The debt of the UK is pretty big, but the reality is that the national debt is not such a big problem, the Conservatives would have you believe that its realy very serious, but this is not true.

The potential problem is the national deficit, which is diffierent to the national debt, it is the deficit that needs addressing, though it certainly does not need putting right as fast as physically possible, which is what the government would have you believe.

The Labour Party must not pretend, or give the impression that every cut and saving made by the coalition can be reversed, because that would be dishonest, but there is a much fairer way of dealing with the deficit.

A Labour government could deal with the deficit without cutting Winter Fuel Payments to Britains pensioners, and a Labour government would not pick on the most disadvanteged in society, like those on disability allowances.

A Labour government would not have sold off Northern Rock at a knock down price to Richard Branson, and they would not have let banks get off so lightly, there would be no perks or tax breaks for big business whilst low paid workers are thrown out of work.

We know that we would get fairness from Labour, but we have to have honesty too

Ivan wrote:

I don't think Cameron is that stupid..

I wouldn't be so sure. A man who is daft enough to think that it's funny and acceptable to make jibes which include a reference to Tourettes is not that bright.

If I lived in Scotland, I could be tempted to vote for independence. Scotland could survive in the EU if a small country such as Luxembourg can. Scotland would not be a net contributor to the EU and would get more out than it put in. And above all, there would be no more rule by a Tory Party in Westminster which hasn't managed to win more than one seat in Scotland in the last four general elections.

I see your point Ivan and there is a good possibility that he is that daft, That is what is worrying me as I think we would be better within the Union than out and your right we would not have to put up with a Tory Gov't full stop since thatchers time the Tories have only one managed to win one seat in Scotland.

bobby wrote:LWS. Of those who put their hat in the ring for leadership of the Labour Party, my first choice was David Miliband, that said I dont feel we now have an inferior leader as both Brothers are equally able just different.
People say that Edd is lacklustre and needs to show himself better, particularly at PMQ’s, I strongly disagree with this theory, I think Edd Miliband has the beating of Herr Cameron hands down, you only have to see which of the two gets personal, nasty and gets out of his pram, its not Edd, but Herr Cameron.
What was the last time Herr Cameron answered a direct Question from Edd. To compare the two IMHO is doing a great disservice to Edd, He will never come across as polished as Herr Cameron as he hasn’t the PR or Eton background of Herr Cameron and leads the Party through conviction rather than the Tory belief in their right to rule, he will never come across as being as nasty as Herr Cameron, simply because he isn’t as nasty, and as far as he is concerned is trying to rid us of the Punch and Judy politics, Herr Cameron promised in the lead up to his taking over leadership of the Tory party.
So far as Edd Miliband having no idea's is as inaccurate as saying Herr Cameron cares for the working/middle classes. It is all but impossible for him to write any policies as firstly he/we has no idea what sort of a mess we are going to inherit from the previous Government, every target made by Herr Cameron and his truly lacklustre Chancellor Gideon has had to be degraded or re written for reasons like, they are simply Illegal or just wont work, are are put right by Labour. If targets weren’t met by Gordon Brown he was completely vilified by the Tory’s and their media machine, and everything was Browns fault, but when Herr Cameron and Gideon's fire is miles off target it because the snow’s too cold, the rains too wet, the Suns too hot or someone sneezed in New Zealand, and now in power and in the drivers seat they are blaming the Global issue, There is a global problem when its them that’s phucking up, but of course there was no Global Credit Crunch to blame when Brown was in charge, it according to them was all the previous Governments fault.
So as far as I am concerned I think Edd is Growing into the job nicely (in both senses of the word), and to coin a phrase “Things can only get better”.

Bobby you are spot on with this. You cannot write any sort of meaningful economic policy with an economy that is failing so badly. plus nor do you know how the land will lay come the GE. I also believe that Ed is slowly growing into the job and up to now has not been stupid to enough to come out with policies we cannot support come the GE. Herr Cameron just like all sitting PMs will hold the whip hand with the media while we will always been seen as failing. Time is the key. its not now that we should focus on. but our goal of 2015.

witchfinder wrote:The debt of the UK is pretty big, but the reality is that the national debt is not such a big problem, the Conservatives would have you believe that its realy very serious, but this is not true.

The potential problem is the national deficit, which is diffierent to the national debt, it is the deficit that needs addressing, though it certainly does not need putting right as fast as physically possible, which is what the government would have you believe.

The Labour Party must not pretend, or give the impression that every cut and saving made by the coalition can be reversed, because that would be dishonest, but there is a much fairer way of dealing with the deficit.

A Labour government could deal with the deficit without cutting Winter Fuel Payments to Britains pensioners, and a Labour government would not pick on the most disadvanteged in society, like those on disability allowances.

A Labour government would not have sold off Northern Rock at a knock down price to Richard Branson, and they would not have let banks get off so lightly, there would be no perks or tax breaks for big business whilst low paid workers are thrown out of work.

We know that we would get fairness from Labour, but we have to have honesty too

I cannot agree more with you Witchy.

bobby wrote:Bluey. All Edd Miliband is saying is, that there will have to be some austerity measures, this is nothing new as he has said that all along. The difference between the two opposing camps are the speed and depth of the cuts, and policies for growth, which at present we dont seem to have.

This is a fair summary Bobby. Its quite pointless and economically stupid to cut so fast, while at the same time wiping out any growth that is there is within the economy. This is the Tories greatest mistake to date. as they have cut fast with no fiscal growth policy in place for two whole years. the net result is what we have today. if you are going to run any austerity economy then you have to manage it as well. this is what FDR learn't in the 1930s and what the Tories forgot in 2009. yet Gideon believes like most Tories that the economy is best left to the market. utter rubbish as Hoover found out in the 1930s.

A Labour government would not have sold off Northern Rock at a knock down price to Richard Branson, and they would not have let banks get off so lightly, there would be no perks or tax breaks for big business whilst low paid workers are thrown out of work.

I can't believe your selfcongratulationary hug party can even write such dribble. Who allowed the banks to run riot, who refused to even try to govern them, and then ask who were his advisors at the time. Ed who, sounds more like a dyslectic owl to me!

tittf

If British banks had had the toughest rules and regulations in the free world, it still would not have stopped the world-wide financial crisis from hitting this country very hard, and the fact is that Northern Rock COULD have brought in much more money for the tax payer if the treasurey had waited.

The other fact is that the present government is taking less in tax from bankers than the previous government did, you can always trust the Conservatives to look after the rich, big business and those with loadsa money.

The image of a dyslexic Owl is irresistible. Maybe we could arrange for an entire House of Commons to be so populated.

Owls wouldn't tell us lies, as long as there was a continuous supply of mice.
That shouldn't present a problem, as we all know who the mice are in the Coalition.

We would all like a stronger opposition...even Tories, but I am afraid Ed is out of his depth and as much as Labour supporters here want to defend him....In reality they are thinking the same thing

What? like the banter we got from Blair and Haig.


I would appreciate less, even none of the yahoo lardy childish antics. If I behaved like that on a railway platform in front of the travelling public, who seeing my uniform identify me as their train driver, I would rightly have sacked myself - breach of company policy, bringing the company into disrepute and a bagatelle of other crimes brought into play! Taken off the platform, breathalised, urine sample taken and possibly hair sample taken, and suspended without pay for as long as the "inquiry" takes!

Yes but I suppose these clowns and harlequins and poppinjays are only in charge of the country, it don't matter!

What does the rest of the world think of these antics?
If our politicians cannot take these proceedings seriously,why should any of the ambassadors and visiting dignatories take these same politicians seriously?

ED BALLS is one of the worst offenders in this despicable Wednesday Lunch Time ensemble


IS "setting an example" too much for these overpaid louts to consider?

Sometime I like the banter and sometimes it comes across as very childish...

Blair was very canny and charismatic politician...I also belive he was very astute and could have given the coalition a much harder time than Millaband. Goverments need to be held to account and it is the job of the opposition to 1. Hold cameron and co to account on their policy decisions and 2. to Have alternative policies to offer the electorate

ED BALLS ......Is just crass and does the Labour party no favours what so ever. I Imagine he was the jealous bully boy in the school playground, but his uncouth tactics do not work very well in the world of politics

the jealous bully boy in the school playground

blue. It's quite amusing to read a Tory describing a Labour politician in that way when you have Flashman as leader of your party!

The brilliant Ed Balls has a first class honours degree in PPE from Oxford, and he became a teaching fellow in the Economics Department of Harvard. He was a leader writer and columnist for ‘The Financial Times’ between 1990 and 1994, from where he was talent spotted by Gordon Brown.

Ed worked as an adviser to Brown from 1994, when Labour was in opposition, and he then became an economic adviser to the Treasury when Brown was Chancellor, where he strongly advised against Britain joining the euro. He became an MP in 2005. Ed advocates Keynesian spending to support the economy in recession. He thinks that it makes more sense if Britons are working and paying tax rather than sitting at home on the dole. He's a social democrat who believes we should spend public money to create growth.

Ed Balls argues that the mistakes of the 1930s and 1980s are being repeated by an ideologically-driven right-wing government which is taking advantage of the situation to pursue its own agenda of changing our society. He reminds us how, in 1931, John Maynard Keynes wrote to an American correspondent: “Every person who hates social progress and loves deflation feels that his hour has come and triumphantly announces how, by refraining from every form of economic activity, we can all become prosperous again”.

Even Ed Balls’ opponents concede that he has a formidable grasp of how the economy works. As the cuts bite, and this reckless government takes us further down the road to ruin which Ireland followed - and which Osborne applauded - it's likely that more and more people will listen to Ed Balls and realise that he would be better at running the economy than an upper class twit who used to sell bathroom fittings in Selfridges.

Nevertheless, Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition have a mountain to climb before facing an Election with confidence. When the Tories were out of office for such a long time, they were careful to stress their difference. The phrase "clear blue water" was coined to describe their distance from Labour policies.

Following Gordon Brown's performance as PM, Ed Milliband won't be proposing a return to the good old days, but in the meantime David Cameron enjoys public support for so long as he continues to swing the British handbag in Brussels.

We live in interesting times.

blueturando wrote:ED BALLS ......Is just crass and does the Labour party no favours what so ever. I Imagine he was the jealous bully boy in the school playground, but his uncouth tactics do not work very well in the world of politics

You talk about Ed Balls been a bully boy, did you know that Cameron Johnston and Osbourne attend school round about the same time and Dave and Boris bullied Gideon for most of there school years so maybe Boris is not the only one after Camerons job it would be a good pay back for Osbourne if he got Camerons job and pipped boris at the post.

Lol Redflag....Now that wouldn't surprise me.......Osbourne looks like the bullied type. I would have probably bullied him too..and Boris for that matter

Of course you would have bluey, you'r a Tory.

Thanks Bobby, thanks to you I now feel I have found my calling and I will go and spit on a homeless person right away

The brilliant Ed Balls has a first class honours degree in PPE from Oxford, and he became a teaching fellow in the Economics Department of Harvard.

Whatever!


All that edjimicayshun, and he cannot/will not "behave" for thirty lousy minutes.

What a waste!

I am uneasy about this modern development, of regarding Parliament as a career. Up to now, all sorts of people from different backgrounds have been our MPs, automatically providing a cross-section of experience and opinions.

In the past twenty years or so, it has become fashionable to go straight from University to become a "Research Assistant" to an MP or government department. People become proficient at the political arts without ever having worked in the real world.

Not good.

go straight from University to become a "Research Assistant" to an MP

And thence be 'Parachuted' into a constituancy where they have NO idea of, or any intrest in local demographics, needs or aspirations.


Mp's should ONLY come from the area they represent.


Further,

Maggie stopped the tied cottage on farms and in the coal mining villages, factories and changed the goalposts in places like the Sunlight scheme, Saltaire, Bournville and many many others.


Why is it that MP's are allowed a 'tied cottage' at our expence (theyworkforus.com) which they can sell on or let out when their term ends?

Ivan wrote:

the jealous bully boy in the school playground

blue. It's quite amusing to read a Tory describing a Labour politician in that way when you have Flashman as leader of your party!

The brilliant Ed Balls has a first class honours degree in PPE from Oxford, and he became a teaching fellow in the Economics Department of Harvard. He was a leader writer and columnist for ‘The Financial Times’ between 1990 and 1994, from where he was talent spotted by Gordon Brown.

Ed worked as an adviser to Brown from 1994, when Labour was in opposition, and he then became an economic adviser to the Treasury when Brown was Chancellor, where he strongly advised against Britain joining the euro. He became an MP in 2005. Ed advocates Keynesian spending to support the economy in recession. He thinks that it makes more sense if Britons are working and paying tax rather than sitting at home on the dole. He's a social democrat who believes we should spend public money to create growth.

Ed Balls argues that the mistakes of the 1930s and 1980s are being repeated by an ideologically-driven right-wing government which is taking advantage of the situation to pursue its own agenda of changing our society. He reminds us how, in 1931, John Maynard Keynes wrote to an American correspondent: “Every person who hates social progress and loves deflation feels that his hour has come and triumphantly announces how, by refraining from every form of economic activity, we can all become prosperous again”.

Even Ed Balls’ opponents concede that he has a formidable grasp of how the economy works. As the cuts bite, and this reckless government takes us further down the road to ruin which Ireland followed - and which Osborne applauded - it's likely that more and more people will listen to Ed Balls and realise that he would be better at running the economy than an upper class twit who used to sell bathroom fittings in Selfridges.

I cannot agree more with this Bobby

Its so easy to sit here and give a critical analysis of the two Eds leadership. I believe Ed Miliband is thoughtful, engaging and has made many key questions about the UK economy. I also happen to appreciated that he does not feel need to pick a fight with the Labour party. But lets be very clear. How can any opposition leader hope to offer any economic policy from the front bench of the House of Commons with the absence of any hard details from the treasury? yet what are the media and Tory party criticisms in essence? it that the two Eds is lacking economic detail while having an incoherent plan to borrow in the sort term?

Well unless the Tory party and media are totally blind this is just what the banal Coalition Government is doing right now to the tune of £127 billion borrowing and overspending its own budgets at the same time while operating no real fiscal policy for any sort of growth within the UK economy. Now that is 100% more irresponsible than anything that both the Eds have said or done too date. Quite candidly the Tory party criticism just does not wash with me either economically or politically.

Then we hear much talk about the Labour party as a whole has not said sorry for so-called past economic mistakes..... Well I am very sorry for my Tory friend on here or within the right wing media. but this is very Rich from a Party and its friends in the right wing media who hailed the 1983 deregulation of the banking and finance sector in the City of London while killing off great tracks of UK Manufacturing production that has left us with just 15% of our GDP now coming from manufacturing sector today. Did anyone ever remember anyone within the Tory party come out and say they are sorry for the 30 year economic experiment that finally ended in the 2008 world banking crisis? Ask yourself one simple question. How many Trillions of pounds has the UK economy lost in overseas manufactured imports that we once made for ourselves just too for fill the 30 year Tory economic experiment that has left us with an unbalanced economy we have today?

Then we have the charge that makes me laugh the most..... Well it goes something like this..... That the Labour party failed to regulate the City or finance sector when it had 13 years in power? Well maybe it high time the Tories tell us all why... it is they only now call for regulation of the finance sector after they de-regulated in the first place in 1983? Yet was it not the Labour party who tried to regulate the City finance sector with the F.S.A only to find ourselves attacked by the Tory party who was crying that this very act would drive the finance sector overseas and into the hands of Germany or into some Tax havens. Then they shouted out that this FSA regulation would bog down the city with more red tape. well Labour's only mistake was to listen to the Tory Party in the first place. yet how funny that today the very same Tory party hides the fact that it was their very own act of deregulation of the City of London lead and laid the very seed to the utter failure of UK banking with it gambling on world markets.

So where are we today? well its yet to dawn on this banal government and its friends in the media who keep crying out about cutting the deficit by cutting everything in sight will fail to work. as all the current economic evidence from countries like Greece is that no matter how hard they cut.. you cannot and will not cut the deficit as the right wingers believe. as the evidence to-date is far from them cutting there deficit.. in evidence to-date is that the deficit grows? as the hard reality is that Austerity by itself is not an economic solution... if its not matched by any sort of a fiscal growth policy in place to support it. In fact the Tories own forecast and OBR figures show that if they are lucky they will only manage to cut the UK deficit by £54 billion. but that even this is subject to no EU crash taking place at all. if that was to happen then not only is the UK economy in very deep trouble but the Tory party will utterly fail economically.. if it has not all ready? based on there own O.B.R figures.

So while i fully understand The Tory parties glee over what it believes is the Labour parties weakness, I am sure they will not mind if I show my own quite satisfaction at there own failed economic policy that is still carrying on at full steam ahead. nor do I personally feel any great need for the current Labour Party leadership to advertise its current economic policy in full just so that they can gain some short term boost in the opinion polls in what for me.. would be an utterly pointless act of engaging in gesture economics at this point.

The ugly truth for us on the left in opposition is this. all we can do right now is sit and watch in discomfort and utter frustration while the Tory party drive what is left of the UK economy in to the ground while they re-live there failed economic policies of the 1980s. while remembering that in two whole years this banal Coalition Government has achieve the worst cut in UK living standards in 90 years with UK unemployment at a 17 years record while setting us on course of the slowest Economic recovery for 100 years while having the longest period of low to no growth for 70 years and what's more this was all before the Euro crisis. Now.. if the Tory Party believe that the Labour party has no chance of winning the next GE with records and figures like that. Then they best get on with it and put there theory to the test? as I can only wish them the best of British luck... as you are going to need it

job of the opposition too

1. Hold cameron and co to account on their policy decisions...Totally agree

2. to Have alternative policies to offer the electorate...Yes when the election is called.... its not the job to given the Tory Party economic policy with three years to go. as the Tory party had no economic alternative policy two years in to the last government. Quite right too...as it would be totally stupid and lack all credibility

But let just remind ourselves of what the Tory parties manifesto and key policies after 13 years opposition

Here are the key points of the Conservative Party's election manifesto, Invitation to join the Government of Britain.

:: Safeguard Britain's credit rating with a credible plan to eliminate the bulk of the structural deficit over a Parliament set out in an emergency Budget within 50 days of taking office.
:: Create the conditions for higher exports, business investment and savings, while cutting youth unemployment.
:: Raise productivity growth in the public sector.
:: Reform the regulation and structure of the banking system.
:: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the UK's share of global
markets for low carbon technologies.
:: Cut a net £6bn of waste in departmental spending in 2010-11.
:: Freeze public sector pay for one year in 2011.
:: Cut ministers' pay by 5 per cent, followed by a five-year freeze.
:: Reduce the number of MPs by 10% and cap public sector pensions above £50,000.
:: Reverse Labour's planned National Insurance hike for anyone earning under £35,000 next year.
:: Create a single Work Programme for everyone who is unemployed.
:: Boost small businesses with automatic rate relief.
:: Cut the headline rate of corporation tax to 25p and the small companies' rate to 20p.
:: Set an annual limit on the number of non-EU economic migrants admitted into the UK.
:: Block plans for second runways at Stansted and Gatwick, while starting work
on new high speed rail network.
:: Freeze council tax for two years and scrap plans for a revaluation.
:: Re-link the basic state pension to earnings and protect the winter fuel payment.
:: Give every patient the power to choose any healthcare provider which meets NHS standards within NHS prices.
:: Stop the "forced" closure of accident and emergency wards, and commission a 24/7 urgent care service in every area of England.
:: Raise standards in schools by enhancing the status of teachers and allowing state schools the freedom to offer same high quality international exams that private schools offer.
:: Give parents the power to save local schools threatened by closure.
:: Crack down on drink and drug-fuelled violence.
:: Cut police paperwork to get more officers on the beat.
:: Give voters the right to kick out MPs found guilty of serious wrongdoing.
:: Publish more data so the public can hold government to account.
:: Permanently raise the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 for first-time buyers.
:: Scrap ID cards, cut back surveillance powers and "intrusive" powers of entry into people's homes.
:: Give Parliament a vote on repeal of the Hunting Act.
:: Create a new National Security Adviser and develop a National Security Strategy.
:: Double the operational allowance for Armed Forces serving abroad.
:: Introduce a referendum "lock" ensuring a vote on the transfer of any more powers to the EU

http://news.sky.com/home/politics/article/15600810.

WELL NOT MUCH OF AN ECONOMIC POLICY WAS IT. AND PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE LABOUR PARTY'S POLICY AFTER JUST TWO YEARS?

WELL NOT MUCH HERE TO BEAT, IF THIS IS THE BEST THE TORIES COULD COME UP AFTER 13 YEARS IN MY VIEW

Which of those manifesto 'promises' have the hypocritical Tories actually kept?

Very few it would seem!

There are still more than 230 categories of "official" who have authority to enter an Englishman's home.

WOW!!!

I can accept a Police Officer in Uniform, Fire and Rescue crew - all tooled up, and Ambulance Technicians and Paramedics (who are NOT officially "Emergency Workers") The gas man for to repair a leak (usually myself who has the 'gas leak' in this abode - follows me around like a faithfull puppy!! ) and the electricity operative. To prevent entry to these could be folly IMO
Any more need a Magistrates authority I would hope!

What kind of worker constitutes the rest?

blueturando wrote:ED BALLS ......Is just crass and does the Labour party no favours what so ever. I Imagine he was the jealous bully boy in the school playground, but his uncouth tactics do not work very well in the world of politics

I see your not mentioning Osbourne and its his PLAN A that is not working "AT ALL" growth going NO WHERE but we do know that UNEMPLOYMENT is going up where it will stop NOBODY knows, and don't talk about BULLY BOYS Cameron and Johnston used to BULLY Osbourne while at school so kettle and frying pan come to mind and what ever tactics Cameron and Osbourne are using they are doing them no good and after the next GE is sooner or later they could find themselves going back into there family business because thats the only job they be able to get.

astra wrote:WOW!!!

I can accept a Police Officer in Uniform, Fire and Rescue crew - all tooled up, and Ambulance Technicians and Paramedics (who are NOT officially "Emergency Workers") The gas man for to repair a leak (usually myself who has the 'gas leak' in this abode - follows me around like a faithfull puppy!! ) and the electricity operative. To prevent entry to these could be folly IMO
Any more need a Magistrates authority I would hope!

What kind of worker constitutes the rest?

Begin here if you like .... http://www.yourrights.org.uk/yourrights/privacy/power-of-officials-to-enter-your-home/index.html