Comments on: What a shambles http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/ Incisive and topical campaigns and commentary on today's issues and tomorrow's problems Wed, 23 May 2012 13:35:04 +0000 hourly 1 By: John, Wrexham http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2794 John, Wrexham Fri, 25 Apr 2008 22:18:29 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2794 labour's failure to have a leadership battle was a sign that the party was bereft of any new ideas, that any real dynamisn had fizzled out and they just thought they were appointing a new 'manager', rather than deciding what their direction would be in the coming years. perhaps if Gordon Brown had had to stand in a proper leadership election, his party might have had a chance to put him under the spotlight. these coronations never seem to work: Michael Howard was hardly a great success, except in comparison to his predecessor. while with the liberals, Ming Campbell did not really have to compete as everyone saw him as a caretaker and then they soon got bored with waiting for him to handover so booted him out. meanwhile david cameron and david davies both helped the conservatives by debating the issues out in the open, rather than in dark corners as the current govt party is doing. labour's failure to have a leadership battle was a sign that the party was bereft of any new ideas, that any real dynamisn had fizzled out and they just thought they were appointing a new 'manager', rather than deciding what their direction would be in the coming years.

perhaps if Gordon Brown had had to stand in a proper leadership election, his party might have had a chance to put him under the spotlight. these coronations never seem to work: Michael Howard was hardly a great success, except in comparison to his predecessor. while with the liberals, Ming Campbell did not really have to compete as everyone saw him as a caretaker and then they soon got bored with waiting for him to handover so booted him out. meanwhile david cameron and david davies both helped the conservatives by debating the issues out in the open, rather than in dark corners as the current govt party is doing.

]]> By: Ian Evans http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2793 Ian Evans Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:56:42 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2793 Interesting to hear JR compare Frank Field's qualities to his own. I must say that of the left I too have always had some respect for FF. But, how on earth did he fall for GB's could-be, maybe, sometime-or-never, partial U-turn, at least for some and for some part of, the 10p debacle? Did GB bribe FF? Blackmail? Perhaps just flattery - surely he can't have been fool enough to take GB at his word?! Reply: I did not compare FF's qualities with my own - I was asked a difficult question and foolishly answered it. There are many differences between Frank and myself. Interesting to hear JR compare Frank Field's qualities to his own.

I must say that of the left I too have always had some respect for FF. But, how on earth did he fall for GB's could-be, maybe, sometime-or-never, partial U-turn, at least for some and for some part of, the 10p debacle? Did GB bribe FF? Blackmail? Perhaps just flattery – surely he can't have been fool enough to take GB at his word?!

Reply: I did not compare FF's qualities with my own – I was asked a difficult question and foolishly answered it. There are many differences between Frank and myself.

]]> By: Tony Makara http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2792 Tony Makara Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:32:39 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2792 "Don’t fancy PM Cameron’s job of shrinking the public sector monster much either!" Patrick, its a very similar situation to the one Ronald Reagan inherited from Jimmy Carter, a bloated public sector and stagflation. Reagan was brave enough to take the axe to the many wasteful 'services' at the time, even though he knew he would have to take the flak because it meant job cuts. However it was necessary and a similar approach is needed here, the state sector has grown so large it will act like a millstone around our economy. David Cameron needs to adopt the spirit of Reagan and get out that axe. "Don’t fancy PM Cameron’s job of shrinking the public sector monster much either!"

Patrick, its a very similar situation to the one Ronald Reagan inherited from Jimmy Carter, a bloated public sector and stagflation. Reagan was brave enough to take the axe to the many wasteful 'services' at the time, even though he knew he would have to take the flak because it meant job cuts. However it was necessary and a similar approach is needed here, the state sector has grown so large it will act like a millstone around our economy. David Cameron needs to adopt the spirit of Reagan and get out that axe.

]]> By: Bazman http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2791 Bazman Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:43:54 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2791 I would say that strikes are healthy for society. Teaches any government. In particularly, the government who ultimately is in charge. Marvelousness.... I would say that strikes are healthy for society. Teaches any government. In particularly, the government who ultimately is in charge. Marvelousness….

]]> By: Matthew Reynolds http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2796 Matthew Reynolds Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:03:05 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2796 We should axe the New Deal & replace Job Seekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit with a new sort of payment to save money by slashing economic inactivity . Employment spending ought to be cut & rail subsidies cut with the structure reformed so that private money is used to fund making things better ( via less red tape , more choice and competition and a restored link between train and track ) . The money saved could fund a Citizenship Pension designed to reduce red tape & poverty while boosting incentives to save . Final Salary Related Pensions need to be axed in the public sector with the money saved used to cut corporation taxes so that long term we can move away from many complex allowances & many high rates toward a 10% flat rate . All that I suggest would stop pension strikes as if the state pension was a simple & generous one people would not need to worry about private pension schemes and lower corporate taxes would boost profitability making private pensions more secure ( if business paid less tax they might find private provision more affordable ). Besides we need to be tax competitive to get productivity , well paid jobs , investment etc rising again . A good way out of the malaise I think ! We should axe the New Deal & replace Job Seekers Allowance and Incapacity Benefit with a new sort of payment to save money by slashing economic inactivity . Employment spending ought to be cut & rail subsidies cut with the structure reformed so that private money is used to fund making things better ( via less red tape , more choice and competition and a restored link between train and track ) . The money saved could fund a Citizenship Pension designed to reduce red tape & poverty while boosting incentives to save . Final Salary Related Pensions need to be axed in the public sector with the money saved used to cut corporation taxes so that long term we can move away from many complex allowances & many high rates toward a 10% flat rate . All that I suggest would stop pension strikes as if the state pension was a simple & generous one people would not need to worry about private pension schemes and lower corporate taxes would boost profitability making private pensions more secure ( if business paid less tax they might find private provision more affordable ). Besides we need to be tax competitive to get productivity , well paid jobs , investment etc rising again . A good way out of the malaise I think !

]]> By: Patrick, London http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2790 Patrick, London Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:13:03 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2790 We have to live with this bunch for another 2 years. God only knows how much more damage and despair will be done by then. Don't fancy PM Cameron's job of shrinking the public sector monster much either! This country is going to be in the sh*^ for years to come. At least our overlords in Brussels have our best interests at heart. :( What's the address of the Canadian High Commission again? Job and housing market in Vancouver look great. We have to live with this bunch for another 2 years. God only knows how much more damage and despair will be done by then.

Don't fancy PM Cameron's job of shrinking the public sector monster much either! This country is going to be in the sh*^ for years to come. At least our overlords in Brussels have our best interests at heart. :(

What's the address of the Canadian High Commission again? Job and housing market in Vancouver look great.

]]> By: Donitz http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2789 Donitz Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:02:26 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2789 Come the revolution Comrades. United we Stand. We are badly paid and only work 35 weeks a year. Come the revolution Comrades.

United we Stand.

We are badly paid and only work 35 weeks a year.

]]> By: Tim Bull http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2788 Tim Bull Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:24:59 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2788 "To recover from here the Prime Minister needs to change his character and approach." I just cannot see it happening. Gordon Brown's premiership is mortally wounded. Those around him are too drunk on power to administer the 'coup de grace'. And the Tory party can only benefit from his continued presence. A bleak outlook for the rest of us outside the gates of Parliament. "To recover from here the Prime Minister needs to change his character and approach."

I just cannot see it happening. Gordon Brown's premiership is mortally wounded. Those around him are too drunk on power to administer the 'coup de grace'.

And the Tory party can only benefit from his continued presence.

A bleak outlook for the rest of us outside the gates of Parliament.

]]> By: Tony Makara http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2787 Tony Makara Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:43:20 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2787 The prime minister ought to close down the wasteful New Deal, 3.4 billion spent and youth unemployment is still up by 20%. The New Deal is one of Labour's most unproductive of gimmicks with a lot of taxpayers money spent and nothing to show by way of return. I'm disappointed that the Conservative party doesn't do more to expose the failings of the New Deal. Every week we have to listen to Gordon Brown at PMQs doing his 'Enver Hoxha' as he rolls off a list of unchallenged statistics about how the New Deal has put more people in work. This is clearly not true, especially when we consider youth unemployment. The prime minister ought to close down the wasteful New Deal, 3.4 billion spent and youth unemployment is still up by 20%. The New Deal is one of Labour's most unproductive of gimmicks with a lot of taxpayers money spent and nothing to show by way of return. I'm disappointed that the Conservative party doesn't do more to expose the failings of the New Deal. Every week we have to listen to Gordon Brown at PMQs doing his 'Enver Hoxha' as he rolls off a list of unchallenged statistics about how the New Deal has put more people in work. This is clearly not true, especially when we consider youth unemployment.

]]> By: Rose http://johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2786 Rose Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:41:01 +0000 http://www.johnredwoodsdiary.com/2008/04/25/what-a-shambles/#comment-2786 Should John Reid have stood, knowing what had been bequeathed by the then Chancellor? Should John Reid have stood, knowing what had been bequeathed by the then Chancellor?

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