[Kizzy]

That's why the cap was effectively considered social cleansing in the capital. Instead of solving social issues or looking at private rents and how out of line they are now they just ousted whole families splintering communities.
Creating an ever wider 'north/south' 'us/them' gulf.

[Kazanne]

Aren't we on the right road to recovery now? Ah well it'll all be for nothing if Milliband gets in,the least Labour should get is a leader that is believable.

[smudgie]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

He's full of ****!

Could not have put it better.

[Kizzy]

We haven't heard enough from him to make a rational decision yet I would say, what's the alternative? rock and hard place spring to mind haha!

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

We haven't heard enough from him to make a rational decision yet I would say, what's the alternative? rock and hard place spring to mind haha!

You hate me so much right now

[Kizzy]

Lol! good job I love you or I might mess you up

[Kazanne]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

Lol! good job I love you or I might mess you up

HUGS

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kazanne

Aren't we on the right road to recovery now?

No, is the short answer.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Kizzy

We haven't heard enough from him to make a rational decision yet I would say, what's the alternative? rock and hard place spring to mind haha!

I think the main (perceived) problem with Ed Milliband is that he's more of an actual "Prime Minister" type - a boring figurehead that represents his party where necessary. In British politics we've become (too) used to "presidential" style PMs, pointless orators with their smarmy lies and ****-eating grins, like Tony Blair and David Cameron.

People want someone who can stand on a stage and speak with charisma - even if they blatantly don't give two hoots about people's actual lives. Men who just sort of do what they want, usually with their faithful Chancellor of the Exchequer bounding along behind them.

Welcome to the X-Factor generation. We might as well have a show called "Prime Minister Idol" where anyone can apply, and the result is purely down to who can spin the best yarn whilst keeping a straight face.

[Kizzy]

Haha! That's exactly it, great analogy
For me being an intellectual realist wins over grinning bull****ter anyday

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

I think the main (perceived) problem with Ed Milliband is that he's more of an actual "Prime Minister" type - a boring figurehead that represents his party where necessary. In British politics we've become (too) used to "presidential" style PMs, pointless orators with their smarmy lies and ****-eating grins, like Tony Blair and David Cameron.

People want someone who can stand on a stage and speak with charisma - even if they blatantly don't give two hoots about people's actual lives. Men who just sort of do what they want, usually with their faithful Chancellor of the Exchequer bounding along behind them.

Welcome to the X-Factor generation. We might as well have a show called "Prime Minister Idol" where anyone can apply, and the result is purely down to who can spin the best yarn whilst keeping a straight face.

Really good post Toy Soldier, very appropriate too, Gordon Brown was well lost in the TV debates in the last election against the other 2.

I personally find it sad we have headed into that scenario but I somehow feel that Ed Miliband may yet surprise us.
I still hope we get reminded in the 2015 election of the broken pledges of very important policy that Nick Clegg promised and also that David Cameron will,against a stronger opposing figure in Ed Miliband, be exposed for his weaknesses as a leader and PM and aslo as someone who went back on his word a fair few times too.

I wouldn't trust David Cameron and cetrianly would never believe a thing Nick Clegg says,however I have no reason not to trust Ed Miliband although he is not a leader I particularly like, I am prepeared to give his party my vote in 2015.
I will be doing that because I feel only from him and Labour will policies be designed with compasson and fairness,especially as to welfare reform.
For me on that issue along with the NHS too, these 2, Cameron and Clegg have lost any moral ground as to those policies and in all truth cannot and should not be trusted again.

[user104658]

I think Ed Milliband has the unfortunate drawback of his face. Seriously - might sound flippant but I think people's opinions of him are coloured by the fact that he sort of looks like a 6th form head boy who has decided to come in on the debate... Hes a bit babyfaced and so its near impossible for him to have an air of authority.

Unfortunately people are swayed by that sort of surface, superficial stuff that actually doesn't really have any bearing at all on whether the person represents good policies.

I think any opposition leader is in a tight spot at the moment... People are wary because theyre not committing to much but they're rightfully steering clear of making too many promises specifically because that's what the condems did before the last election, before proceeding to break all of them. If the current opposition, who are likely to get in next time, make too many promises and then go back on them... then the pendulum will simply keep swinging - with voters losing faith and gaining political apathy each time round. Why bother voting for any party at all if they might go against every reason you voted for them?

That's why it took Labour so long to pledge to reverse bedroom tax - they wanted to be all but positive that they had an actual workable plan to reverse it before committing to that. It would have been very easy for them to condemn it as soon as it came into force and promised straight away to abolish it should they get in... But promising it and then not being able to deliver would have been a disaster. For that reason I don't think we will see HUGE or outlandish promises from them... And I don't think that's a bad thing. At least it's honest.

[Kizzy]

I think it's been beneficial in a sense to hold this juicy info back in a way, as I feel it will be part of the crescendo of his speech, which is beginning on BBC2 now.

[Livia]

I notice he didn't mention the monumental cluster-******* that turned out to be the previous Labour government's economic policies. I expect they've sorted all that out now, and if they do get in and inherit a stronger economy than they left, they'll just run it into the ground again. And again. And again.

[Kizzy]

I have no idea what a 'cluster****' is.....
The leader has changed, I don't know if anyones noticed?
Are we ever to be forward thinking? Could anyone say they don't want what he suggested?
Could anyone hand on heart say, in the last 3yrs changes implemented by this government have been beneficial to the public?... I don't think so.

[user104658]

Originally Posted by Livia

I notice he didn't mention the monumental cluster-******* that turned out to be the previous Labour government's economic policies. I expect they've sorted all that out now, and if they do get in and inherit a stronger economy than they left, they'll just run it into the ground again. And again. And again.

The recession was global, it affected literally every single western nation. It was quite obviously not caused by any one government. And as much ad the Tories would live to take credit for the now (apparently) stronger economy... Again, the issue has been global and it's been a gradual global recovery. if anything, they've arguably held it back from being as strong a recovery as it could have been.

[Kizzy]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The recession was global, it affected literally every single western nation. It was quite obviously not caused by any one government. And as much ad the Tories would live to take credit for the now (apparently) stronger economy... Again, the issue has been global and it's been a gradual global recovery. if anything, they've arguably held it back from being as strong a recovery as it could have been.

Hey! don't you come around here talking all that sense stuff!

[joeysteele]

I do have some small reservations as to Ed Miliband,however as with last year I was impressed with his Conference speech today.
He has a better vision of the Country as a whole and it is time that David Cameron and this Coalition Govt were stopped from attacking the weakest and poorest while pandering to the strongest.

Whatever else, Ed Miliband's Labour is now far more on my wavelength,I am sick of the nastiness and the heartless sledgehammer being used against the most vulnerable of this Country and even more furious at the chaos created in the NHS by this Govts unwelcome and badly thought out reforms too.

I found myself nodding in agreement all through this speech today and I was even more impressed with the outlined policies.
Now though watch the energy Companies start screaming after them being able to rip people off left,right and centre for years now,another good move by him on that one too.
All good moves,the scrapping of the hated bedroom tax/charge and also his plans for the NHS again too.
An impressive and I believe sincere speech,he has my vote for sure.

I also am beginning to believe that Ed Miliband will actually surprise and do really well too in the leaders debates.
Well,that is if David Cameron decides to do them again as I understand he is not very enthusiastic as to taking part in them in 2015.
One wonders why.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Toy Soldier

The recession was global, it affected literally every single western nation. It was quite obviously not caused by any one government. And as much ad the Tories would live to take credit for the now (apparently) stronger economy... Again, the issue has been global and it's been a gradual global recovery. if anything, they've arguably held it back from being as strong a recovery as it could have been.

Yes the recession was global, but Labour undoubtedly compounded the problem by the hopelessly mismanaged cluster-******* (look it up) they allude to as "the economy". Even Labour themselves admit that they messed up and added to the problems, but some of their supporters continue to be in denial and absolve Labour of all responsibility of their mishandling the economy with the cry "it was a global recession"... and that's kind of scary.

Gordon Brown, economist extraordinaire, sold our entire gold reserves at the lowest price Gold had been for decades. Just one instance of their total ineptitude... I could go on but you'd probably gloss over it. Ed Miliband, the man who shafted his own brother to get his job, was instrumental in Brown's Treasury, and now he's in charge of the whole party. Either he's learned an awful lot in three years, or Labour will drag us into the same spiral that's been recurring for decades: Labour get in and spend the money leaving the economy in ruins, Tories take over and the economy improves, Labour get in again and spends all the money... etc. etc. etc.

[anne666]

I am in my sixties and there has never been a Labour Government which has left power without creating an economic disaster. Of course the last one was the most monumental. It gets worse every time so God knows what they will do next.

[anne666]

Originally Posted by Livia

Yes the recession was global, but Labour undoubtedly compounded the problem by the hopelessly mismanaged cluster-******* (look it up) they allude to as "the economy". Even Labour themselves admit that they messed up and added to the problems, but some of their supporters continue to be in denial and absolve Labour of all responsibility of their mishandling the economy with the cry "it was a global recession"... and that's kind of scary.

Gordon Brown, economist extraordinaire, sold our entire gold reserves at the lowest price Gold had been for decades. Just one instance of their total ineptitude... I could go on but you'd probably gloss over it. Ed Miliband, the man who shafted his own brother to get his job, was instrumental in Brown's Treasury, and now he's in charge of the whole party. Either he's learned an awful lot in three years, or Labour will drag us into the same spiral that's been recurring for decades: Labour get in and spend the money leaving the economy in ruins, Tories take over and the economy improves, Labour get in again and spends all the money... etc. etc. etc.

This, sorry you'd already covered what I've just said.

[Kizzy]

There hasn't been a tory government that hasn't taken a chainsaw to the postwar infrastructure so painstakingly built... Name one area that hasn't been carved up, privatised,outsourced,disassembled or laid waste?
All great and powerful industry this country was once considered 'great' for... gone.
Using the media to control the public, destroying the reputation of public services to fit their agenda?
More clusterbomb than cluster**** I'd say.

[Vicky.]

In short, the main parties are all ****, none know what the hell they are doing. And the best thing they all (and their supporters too) do is play the blame game. Its what most politicians are best for, shifting blame around, while gaining themselves a few backhanders along the way.

Hell, if the coalition managed to stay on for a few more terms..I bet they would still be blaming labour for their own **** ups.

We need a new party to be honest.

Still, good on Miliband for having a bit of sense when it comes to this ridiculous and cruel policy though.