Serious question

[msdkeith]

Would anybody like to take up the cudgels and suggest what exactly New Labour have achieved in 10 years of vapid slogans allied to incompetent financial management.

Just to lob in my tuppence, consider things like the Dome, fox-hunting and spending on the NHS. The Dome cost something in the region of a billion pounds for a plastic tent (actually quite an impressive structure) filled with pathetic crap.

Fox hunting was such a vital piece of legislature that the Parliament Act was invoked to stifle debate (for only the 4th time in history) and the Dear Leader still couldn't be bothered to vote. Ironically the new legislation means that more healthy foxes die but bad law usually impacts badly.

As to the NHS, the money shovelled into the system has been squandered. The pay deal with the GPs for instance has led to a worse service provision while GPs now average £120K per annum. Given that it takes around 10 years to become a GP I don't begrudge them the money but only this government could come up with an idea that costs more and delivers less. Nanny Hewitt's latest contribution is to suggest that if people are a bit chubby or smoke, they should be denied medical care until they get more healthy....she appears not to recognise the irony.

It occurs to me that a government with three successive large majorities has had a mandate to change things. The Labour administration that came to power in 1945 promised much and they instituted a large tranche of public sector ownership and set up the National Health Service. After 50 some years of the NHS, rather than a generally healthy population we have unfortunate levels of obesity, eating disorders, smoking related illnesses and a growth in TB and diabetes. Bevan would be proud. Rather than lecturing us it might be useful if Hewitt remembered what the NHS is really for.

To return to Labour achievements: we were promised wonders in education, health, law and order, economic management and society as a whole. Frankly, I'm disappointed. What marvels have I missed, and incidentally, is there anyone out there who believes that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction poised to threaten us in 45 minutes?

I pose the last question because we hanged a bunch of Germans in 1946 for starting an aggressive war and it seems to me that Blair did pretty much the same thing. Not suggesting they should hang him.....though it wouldn't reduce me to tears....but it does appear that standards have slipped a bit.

[SoggyFox]

[Bantam]

Originally Posted by msdkeith

Just to lob in my tuppence, consider things like the Dome, fox-hunting and spending on the NHS. The Dome cost something in the region of a billion pounds for a plastic tent (actually quite an impressive structure) filled with pathetic crap.

Just to piss on your bonfire a little here, the Dome was a Tory thing which Labour decided to carry on with because it was actually a good idea.

And did you go there? It was actually very very good.

[purple vonny]

That's a long rant.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to go diving and cheer yourself up?

[Bantam]

More likely some of these are required;

[Scubee]

Banning fox hunting was quite a good idea too. Not necessary, and really quite a cruel sport.

[SoggyFox]

Originally Posted by Scubee

Banning fox hunting was quite a good idea too. Not necessary, and really quite a cruel sport.

well said.

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by Bantam

Just to piss on your bonfire a little here, the Dome was a Tory thing which Labour decided to carry on with because it was actually a good idea.

And did you go there? It was actually very very good.

Aye, championed by multi-millionaire man-of-the-people Mike Hesseltine. The only thing wrong with it really was that the tories aversion to public transport meant that the tube link wasn't ready and so massive overtime payments were made to remedy their piss poor planning. Also the obsession that things have to make money - so it was doomed to fail from day one. And the fact that (since the English have no decent managers) they didn't let the French chappie run it first off.

So much could have been done with it - concerts. sporting events and the like. But it has stood empty while the accountants argue about who gets the big wadge of (public) dosh that is swilling around. What a disgrace.

By all means build things like this but lets not kid ourselves that they are commercially viable.

Chris

[Keith Whittaker]

Speaking as a former beneficiary of it. The minimum wage was a pretty good idea.

[Dave Crampton]

[Tougue in Cheek]

..... and of course we're all looking forward to the Tory return as I personally beileve I'm not paying enough Mortgage and I'm looking forward to the return of 15+% interest rates......

......oh yes and I'm also looking forward to the rest of the UK assets being sold off.. aherm 'Privatised' ......

[/Tougue in Cheek]

So lets run down the list so far Keith.... 8 posters posting in support of your Labour bashing.... NOT