Do you agree?

[PATHIEF]

All you Tories out their prepare for 5 more glorious years of the most successful labour government ever in history

[kempie]

When in the last eight years did we have a Labour government. I guess you are under 35 years of age since you have to be older than that to have any memory of a real Labour government, not this New Labour sham.

[Loosehead]

That's right I mean the last real Labour Government surrendered to the Unions, made us the sick man of Europe, had to go cap in hand to the IMF, effectively paid Danegeld to the unions in the Nationalised industries to stop them striking. Yep I agree with Kempie, you must be too young to remember the last attempt by the reds under the bed! (or Gordons very quiet mates as they are now known).

[kempie]

I should clarify that I am not advocating a return to Socialist mismanagement but rather that Mr Blair et al present their party for what it really is i.e. Conservative Lite and drop Labour from the name.

[Loosehead]

I could see that Kempie, I was just trying to get the questioner to see what real Labour is like, as you say, Socialist

[QmunkE]

Why is it a "sham"? Conservative policy too has changed, since they have realised that they would not be re-elected if they didn't. And of course, they still won't be re-elected because of their performance through their last 18 year spell in government. Times have changed, and so have the parties.

[kempie]

It is a sham because they keep the name Labour but have changed their ideology. Labour was born of socialism but has been hijacked by this new mob and steered towards the 'right' of the political spectrum.

How would you feel if you were a member of a book club and suddenly the 'leadership' imposed a rule that only books written in Spanish could be discussed, a language you do not understand. It would make more sense for a Spanish Book Club to be formed.

Of course 'New' Labour knew that there is no way they would become the Government (in the short term) if they formed a new party. Just look at SDP, who later merged and morphed (Social and Liberal Democrats→Lib Dem.)

[Dsg]

Is this the same Labour Government that, last time, promised to legislate against university top-up fees, had no intention of raising National Insurance contributions and this time have put anything contentious (eg Council Tax) to one side by saying it is the subject of review ? Can anybody guess what is coming if they are re-elected ?

[jno]

I remember the Tories preparing for 5 more glorious years of government themselves (and they were no more conservative than Labour is socialist, they didn't conserve anything much)... and they got it, and it all went pear-shaped.

It could all go the same way for Labour and for the same reason: long periods in power produce arrogance and an indifference to the wishes of the electorate. At least Blair, unlike Thatcher, has an heir-in-waiting, and one who could well do a good job. But the short answer to PATHIEF's question (well, more of a proclamation) is: pride comes before a fall.