By David Beeson
There is a fresh new breeze blowing through politics today. David Cameron and the Tories are going to renew politics in this country and for that we should be deeply grateful to them.
Cameron has shown himself to be keen to learn from the errors of the past and avoid making them himself. He saw, for instance, the euphoria that greeted Tony Blair’s election back in 1997. It actually lasted for several years, amazingly, but then, with the Iraq war, it all began to unravel and give way to a disappointment all the deeper because the previous hopes had been so high.
Then last year Obama was elected in the States, and again our optimism knew no bounds. Just one year on, we’re beginning to wonder whether our expectations were too high, and disappointment again is beginning to creep in.
Cameron has realised that to have one’s hopes betrayed in this way is agonisingly painful. So he’s decided to spare us that pain. He’s getting his disappointment in ahead of time.
So he’s adopting economic policies which, if ever he gets to apply them, will slash public services and make life in this country much more difficult for us all. I mean, forget the health service or education, just think of something as simple as the railways: today you can catch a train with a high expectation that it will run and will get you to your destination on time. Remember how it was under Thatcher and Major?
But the worst thing is that those policies won’t just cut services, they’ll massively increase unemployment and deepen the recession while prolonging it. But the Tories aren’t hiding any of that: elect them, they’re saying, and we’ll make things much worse.
Meanwhile, at a time when one of our problems in this country is the rise of the ultra-right, Cameron has come up with a brilliant way of countering that threat. He’s got into bed with some of the nastiest racist and crypto-fascist parties on the continent. To do that, he’s made sure he’s no longer in a group with Merkel or Sarkozy or anyone who might actually wield influence in Europe or around the world. He’s also decided to demand a re-negotiation of Britain’s arrangements with the EU, a position that is getting up the nose or more less everyone else in Europe and would lead to Britain being marginalised and isolated.
So at a time when the major world powers, such as the US, China or Russia, are making it clear that they will be dealing principally with each other and have little time for minor players, Cameron has decided to make sure that Britain has no influence within the one major bloc to which it belongs. He wants the opportunity to make the country irrelevant on the world stage.
It’s wonderful, isn’t it? He’s being absolutely straight with us, making sure we can’t be disappointed if ever he’s elected. Vote for us, he’s saying, and you’ll get a lot of pain, some nasty politics and widespread incompetence.
Don’t say you weren’t warned.
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Glad you brought up MRSA in your response to Peter. Your clear political bias has clouded you to some very simple facts, so I'll take this opportunity to enlighten you. In 1997 (under the Tories) MRSA cases numbered 2,422 in England and Wales combined. Fast forward to 2004 (under New Labour) and the number jumped to 7,684 in England alone. So in conclusion, MRSA is at least three times worse under New Labour than it ever was under the Tories. Below is a link to those figures.
http://www.treatmentabroad.net/medical-tourism/mrsa-infection/
So much for your hypothesis of filthy conditions under the Tories and cleanliness under New Labour, eh?
I commented under another thread regarding infant mortality. For your benefit I'll summarise what I said under that thread. Infant mortality was reduced by 6 deaths per 1000 during the last Tory administration, yet has only reduced by 1 death per 1000 under New Labour. Another example that explodes the myth that New Labour has been more successful regarding the NHS. These are actual facts and figures not political rhetoric.
Would you care to comment on Roo Ster's post regarding NHS dentistry, doctors appointments and hospital parking? Do you think this situation is Tory propaganda or a reality that the majority of us have to put up with? Is that something to be proud of?
Would you also care to respond to the fact that the previous Conservative government built more social housing during it's time in office than New Labour have? So much for looking after the worse off in our society.
If anyone is guilty of spouting rhetoric, it's you Elizabeth. Most people who comment on LabourList provide proof of their assertions. You merely give us your personal opinion. Unfortunately your opinions aren't based on actual facts, mere fantasy.
With regards to my assertions that you do not currently occupy the same realm of reality that the rest of us do is based on the nonsensical posts you make. A fine example is when you told us all that you truly believe Gordon Brown is the best Chancellor, and best Prime Minister that this country has ever had. Proof (if it were ever needed) that you are off your meds.
Seriously, do you honestly think people will react like this? At a time when the public's faith in politics and, more specifically, politicians, you think this kind of snide, sneering pseudo-satire will make you more electable? Why not try some discussion of policy, you know, lay ou the case as to why a Labour government would be better than a Conservative one? Is it because Gordo will do only what he thinks best and ignore anyone else's opinion, so any discussion of policy is completely pointless? Or is it becuase after 12 years in government your party has completely run out of ideas and so must resort to lies, smears and half-truths to attempt to remain in power?
Surely things could not get worse even under the Tories, to beat Nu Labour they will really have to go some!
Rather when will Labour learn that the public services are not there to feather-bed their friends and votes are not bought by largesse but by effective administration and public services that deliver value for money.
Again, Labour has stupidly ramped up public spending and ran out of money. They are not perfect by a very long way, they need urgent and deep reform rather than turning a deaf ear and showering them with other people's money.
It is going to painful, twice the level of debt in %GDP as 1979, many, many hundreds of billions off the balance sheet and schools and hospitals mortgaged for another 20 years. A massive section of our best performing sector of the economy - financial services is on life support.
Labour have taken money out of the industries of the future, the hi-tech, the innovative start-ups and created a business unfriendly climate sacrificing it on the altar of higher public spending.
They have spent the investments we should have made on a wasteful and unproductive public sector.
Anyone that says it isn't going to be painful is a deluded and deceitful liar.
Add to that ‘Joined up Government’, no more spin, purer than pure and mustn’t forget best placed to be out of recession by June 2009!
No wonder eating babies is more popular... well, except for the odd, positive, trifle!
David, I presume you realise that:
1) Whoever is in power for the next Parliament will be cutting services. Nick Clegg used the expression "savage cuts". Alastair Darling has pencilled in 10%+ cuts.
2) Cameron will be inheriting an economic and budgetary disaster. He didn't cause it through 12 years of misguided economic management.
In 2009, Neither I nor any of my family, plus many of my friends and colleagues have access to a NHS dentist, they simply say that they are full up.
For a doctors appointment you must phone at exactly 0830hrs and then redial, redial and redial. You will eventually get through and be told that there are no appointments available and that you cannot make an appointment for another day, you must start the whole process again tomorrow!
I have to drive a friend to hospital regularly for treatment for her terminal cancer, it costs a minimum of £2 each visit!
And this is progress?
I know little about the SNP (living in Buckinghamshire, they aren't a major concern for me), can you explain your "tarten Tories" comment?
During the eighties when the Tories used Private cleaning companies for NHS---I had never witnessed such filth in a hospital waiting room completely run down a breeding ground for germs ie MRSA etc----We were there for tests that would be carried out at the out-patient clinic on my elderly mother(who had been a geriatric nurse)She was so shocked and wanted to leave as she didn't want any of us to be waiting around in such conditions for any length of time.
I can say hand on heart that I am very proud of Labour's achievements on NHS.
I'm sure there was problems with new buildings, that goes along with construction industry & we see this over & over on these daytime TV home building programmes when people need to get repairs done to their property---There's builders & there are cowboys
I am a Glaswegian and so very proud to be so.
I have lived in England for the past 20yrs I have children that moved back to Scotland & settled in Glasgow with their families.
My father was a shipwright on the Clyde & strikes & layoffs were a regular occurrence so I learned early in life about social injustice.
Having a social conscience is important to me & Scotland to me is a socialist Country & therefore Nationalism is wrong & would turn back the clock for Scotland to when the Lairds owned most of the land & ordinary people suffered under such a regime.
BNP is a disgraceful right wing party lead by dangerous bigots & you are right to dismiss them from Scotland but SNP is not the answer they are Tartan Tories & Nationalism horrifies me remember Hitler was a Nationalist Ugh! not much difference from BNP eh!
Most of the extra money New Labour claim to have put in goes straight out through the revolving doors to pay for PFI builds (the pockets of their financial pals.. the banks) that cost in the order of six times more than a traditionally funded build. Each £5 billion of traditional build is going to cost £30 billion by the time the PFI contract ends.
The classic PFI disaster of my personal knowledge is Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. It was not fit for purpose on the day it opened as the air conditioning was inadequate and could not maintain the constant temperature it was supposed to. Cross infection rates were higher than in the Victorian building it replaced because the 'architects' appointed by the PFI consortium had no experience of building a hospital and had created an number of 'stagnant areas' in the corridors between surgery and the wards. With three years of opening the poor build quality meant that ceilings and walls were failing and in 2008 the condition of a number of the operating theatres was such that they have now put Portacabins in the car parks to take operating theatres until the 'new ones' are fixed. The medic in Private Eye calculated that the new Edinburgh Royal Infirmary would have cost less and the Lothian Health Board would have had a greater come back on the PFI Consortium if they had used Mastercard.
Then we could discuss the disappearing NHS Dental Service ....... the ineffective and wasteful targets ........ the PFI hospital that was built with no storage for contaminated waste ..... the closures that PFI has brought about .... turning a blind eye to dubious qualifications and conditions of employment of overseas doctors, nurses and dentists by 'private companies' so that political point scoring could go on ....... aye there is so much good that 'New Labour' has done for the NHS.
When Thatcher came to power the economy was shambolic. By the time Major lost power the economy was strong and Labour inherited everything it needed for the increases in public spending it had pledged.
Sadly, the Tories will once again be called upon to sort the economy out, and it will be a hard and bitter time for many. When will a labour administration learn that the greatest good will be served by long term sustainable spending (rather than throw money at problems as a 1st resort) saving during the good times for when times are tough, and an understanding that you can't spend more than you earn!
"the dire strait of the nhs pre 1997"
I seem to remember getting GP, Hospital and Physio treatment "pre 1997", was I mistaken?
The nice thing about it was that I knew a few years later I wouldn't see massive cut backs and tax increases due to over spending for years.
You are a typical NuLabour phoney aren't you? Whoever wins is the one who can spend more taxpayers money, doesn't matter if the money is borrowed and spent on the never never, because you can say "under ***** they'd cut funding"
Yes of course they would because you can’t keep spending what you don't have or did you fail basic maths at school?
Not to worry just as in 1979 your financially illiterate party will be removed from government for a very very long time in a few short months from now.
I would imagine Mike will have lots to say to you between now and then.
Great to read your right wing nonsense--Whatever you do don't give up using Labourlist---You amuse us with your tired rhetoric
Conservatives & medication & Finance--don't make me laugh!!
REMEMBER THE DIRE STATE OF OUR NHS PRE 1997
It's your good self that is void of REALITY!!
Where the Scot's voter has an advantage over our English cousins is we have a party we can opt for, that has proven and continues to prove its interest in Scottish Issues and seeking to do what is best for Scotland. The Westminster media loves are worried. They are already concocting fairy stories about how the BNP may come third in Glasgow NE, how that will 'steal' the seat from Labour while Glasgow bookies continue to cut the odds against the SNP winning the seat. All that when Nick Griffin was turned back at Hamilton on Police advice and the BNP received less than 0.05% of the vote in Scotland last June.
We know about all these 'oiks' like Blair, Brown and Cameron in Scotland, their triumphalism, their lies and their deceits just like English voters do. From the little ones like; Willie Bain lives in Springburn and is a lecturer at Strathclyde Uni, through Alan Johnson's attempt to cover up his stupidity over scientific advisers; to Brown's justifying of his flip-flopping over Afghanistan.
It does not matter whether the Tories, Labour or the Cumquat Liberation Party forms the UK's next government, Elizabeth, we - the voter - know there is no real difference between the lot of them - they are a bunch of venal, self interested, inward looking, block headed incompetents - the majority of whom rarely think for themselves, as the party attack dogs shepherd them through the lobbies like baa-ing sheep. Maybe, that is why the BNP are making such inroads into the traditional Labour vote while UKIP do the same to the Tories in England .... people are trying to tell the traditional Westminster Parties an important message - reform, reform Parliament quickly or your end is nigh.
Maybe that is also why the SNP membership in Scotland, along with their vote share continues to grow. Not so much because Scots want to see the end of the Union but are preparing to get out if a UKIP / BNP majority is ever established in Westminster.
Here's one to ponder: If Labour blows it big style in 2010 and Cameron looks a shoe in, 25% of Libdem and Labour voters in Scotland say they will vote SNP. Labour's problem is not Cameron, Elizabeth, Labour's problem is 'New Labour' and its vacuous and facile promotion of its 'ideas'. So I think you will find the Scots voter increasingly saying "Bye, bye, Westminster, keep your Tory, UKIP and BNP bampots - we are offski!" and leave the English voters to rue the disaster they will bring upon their own heads no matter how they vote...
Neither the "media" not the electorate are "bored" with Labour after 12 years. They are sick of all the lies and spin, and desperately disappointed with the results that Labour has achieved.
As for the Tories "smashing up anything they could get their hands on", I think you'll find that the economy (and the country as a whole) was a lot better off at the end of 18 years of Tory rule that it was at the beginning.
And as for the Tories only looking after the affluent in our society, that assumption is not even remotely based on facts. You will obviously be aware of the fact that the Tories built more social housing during their time in office than New Labour have? You also seem to forget the 10p fiasco. Just to name two.
The electorate remember all too well how it took a Tory government to rescue the country after the previous Labour government left us virtually bankrupt. And here we are again, 30 years later, and Labour have once again virtually bankrupted the country.
It's clear to me that Labour have failed you. Maybe a Conservative government will provide the finance to supply you with the medication that you so desperately need to live in the real world.
I can just see it after the results showing Tories are elected & Cameron is PM---The media will show the Bullingdon boys together Dave,George,Boris celebrating in the Oi-ck, Oi-ck, Ra, Ra way---That is! They will be charging around London, that has included anti-social behaviour in the past & having a run in with the law when they smashed up anything they could get their hands on while they were on the rampage.
Oh!dear what have we done the UK voters will cry!!
It seems that Mr Cameron & his cronies are taking the voters for mugs(they are being helped by the media because they are bored with Labour after 12yrs). They haven't got any policies that would benefit the Country only promoting they will make it worse for us but that will only be for some of us because they will look after their own ie The affluent in our society.
Labour must continue to fight & destroy this lot of chance-rs who call themselves Progressive Tories but are proving over & over they are still Thatcherites & we know the damage she created & left a legacy of deprivation that we seen throughout the UK ie anywhere north of Watford was left to deal with the recession without help & "allowed the recession to take it's course"
"He’s also decided to demand a re-negotiation of Britain’s arrangements with the EU, a position that is getting up the nose or more less everyone else in Europe and would lead to Britain being marginalised and isolated."
I pay my taxes to be spent in the UK, I don't want my taxes going to French farmers or Rumanian families.
So when Cameron starts talking about the rebate he's negotiating for me not for Merkel or Sarkozy
When I vote for my MP, I'm voting for a representative to produce and vote on my laws. I do not my UK law decided by Germans, Latvians and Greeks
So when Cameron goes looking to bring powers back to the UK he is fighting on my behalf, not Merkel or Sarkozy.
If you want to keep Merkel and Sarkozy happy then clear off to their country and live there, this is the UK and I want a UK PM who fights for the UK not 26 other states simply so you can feel a "good European" whatever the hell that means.
a couple of thoughts:
1.Your choice of railways seemed a little strange since for the whole of Maggie's time as PM the railways were in the public sector and only started to deliver any sort of decent service post-privatisation.
2. Do you believe it is possible to continue long term with the current level of public spending and public debt?
That said, the main thrust of the post was v. Good.
No, thought not. You can't.
Next....
We have been, about 800 times!