Comments on: Time to mend the roof if you want stability

By: NigelC

NigelC — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:58:31 +0000

HJ,
I hope you are being ironic. Every region has a Regional Assembly despite the no vote in the North East. They were imposed and have been running the regional planning process, amongst other things, for years at enormous cost to us the taxpayer.
The North East, rightly in my view, rejected a directly elected Assembly

By: mikestallard

mikestallard — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:49:31 +0000

http://web.mac.com/judystallard/iWeb/Gallery/Welc…

I got so angry that I painted the included picture.

By: mikestallard

mikestallard — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 22:48:29 +0000

I do hope that your temperature has now got back to normal. I hugely enjoy your blog which is frank and clued up. This article is no exception to that either.
And you forecasted as much.

The EU is surely to blame for the following: Regional Government, ID cards and Raitrack. All the government is doing is obeying Brussels. The railways are in for a huge plan, so meanwhile there is planning blight. http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/lo…
One of the worst things this government has done is to ruin the Civil Service. Notice how Civil Serf website has been taken down with a little self righteous speech by the Minister of something (I forget what exactly). But all the new employees are going to vote Labour and that is what it is all about.
The BBC let it slip today that Northern Rock was not included in the budget figures. It has been completely forgotten. The figures are fiddled so often now (inflation figures, league tables for schools?) that one more won't make any difference.
About the ministers: Simon Heffer put it very well this morning, I thought, in the Telegraph: The drunk has the keys to the cellar.

But – look at the MEPs blogs and see how much worse the MEPs get it and rejoice!

By: jay

jay — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 21:28:05 +0000

Apparently bullion dealers now refer to the bottom of the gold market as 'browns bottom' in honour of our glorious leader infallible sense of timing

By: Brian Tomkinson

Brian Tomkinson — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 20:21:02 +0000

I was pleased to read your views on what should be done. However, may I suggest that there is a need to state positively and clearly what you would have done rather than present it in the form of questions as to why the government won't do these things. This may seem to be nit-picking but I think it goes to the heart of commanding public attention and then support. The country is desperate for a credible alternative to this rotten and discredited Labour government. Most people, who don't take as much detailed interest as the readers of your blog, need to be given clear messages about how the Conservatives would rectify the mess that Brown has created. I fear that is not coming across strongly and clearly enough from your front bench team.

By: HJ

HJ — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:10:56 +0000

John said: "Why do we need regional unelected regional government in England? Its unpopularity in the North East referendum should be proof enough to alert politicians that it would be best swept away."

John must be mistaken. I'm sure that the North East voters must have voted in favour otherwise they wouldn't have one:
http://www.northeastassembly.gov.uk

By: APL

APL — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:10:37 +0000

JR: "He drew attention to the high taxes, the surging borrowing, and the unpleasant inflation that the budget encompasses."

Was it true that Ed Balls reply to Cameron referring to high taxes was "so what"?

(Followed by adverse comments on the extent of Mr and Mrs Balls salary and expense payments from the taxpayer which were not quite accurate)

REPLY I do not know myself . Clearly David Cameron thought he heard "So what?" and he was one of the closest to Mr Balls. Supporters of Mr Balls say he said "So weak" which sounds rather different.I was in bed with a raging temperature listening on the radio so I could not pick up the aside."So weak" is not as natural a jibe as "So what?" – you might expect "feeble" or "pathetic" if that is your view. Ultimately it comes down to who do you believe?

By: Laurence

Laurence — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:48:21 +0000

Well, for once, Mr. Redwood, I agree with every word you say! But do you imagine the NuLabour loons will listen? And I would like to know just how differently Cameron would really do things if he gets in. You see – like the majority of people in this country now, I don't trust the 'mainstream' parties one little bit any more.

By: niconoclast

niconoclast — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:42:34 +0000

'At the end of the day' politicians can do what they want and we have no control over them.They indulge in vicarious philanthropism -with our money! Many people are slowly realising that re Democracy they have been sold a pup. If only they stayed at home election day the politicians would finally get the message.Either that or vote libertairian.

By: Bazman

Bazman — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:39:14 +0000

Reply: I WOULD SAY WE NEED TO CUT OUT WASTEFUL AND UNDESIRABLE SPENDING, WHICH THIS GOVERNMENT GOES IN FOR ON A GARGANTUAN SCALE.
Or do you just mean cuts in services and spending John?
I have no doubt a lot of individuals and companies are making a fortune at the taxpayers expense with their shoddy work, over inflated bills and little check on their work.
I would like to hear how a Conservative government would archive these efficiencies in the real world.

Reply:NO I DONT MEAN CUTS IN IMPORTANT SERVICES, I DESCRIBED EXACTLY WHAT AND HOW.