Labour's Glorious Record

[Gromit]

"We have revolutionised the lives and expectations of millions of our citizens, combining social justice with prosperity in a way which is unprecedented in the history of our country."

From Tom Watson Labour MP's resignation letter.

Is this true? funny? or self deluding?

[jonnythebosh]

I'm sure that all the people like me who had their pension fund raided and destroyed by this government will be keen to see the back of TB and New Labour.
They have been a total disaster for this country and acheived nothing in nearly 10 years apart from implementing their student hangups into Law.
Crime, NHS, Immigration, Prescott, Education, Council Tax, Iraq, Afghanistan, homegrown terror etc, all absolute disasters but lets ignore these serious issues and deliver on civil partnerships and ban foxhunting.
Completely and utterly useless combined with an inability to ever tell the truth have left this country a pathetic joke.
Some people might be happy with this country but i aren't.
Just imagine how much we could improve our society and quality of life if we had a creditable opposition that promised to sort out immigration, be tough on crime, lower taxes, pull out of the EU and make people take responsibility for themselves. In other words Conservatives with a capital C instead of the pathetic imitation of New Labour we have now. They are both as bad as each other.

[matt66]

wel said Johnny...yeah lets make sure we have civil partnerships. It is very important that we do and that we make sure that we are forever beholden to this govt and Blair for it. never mind the Iraqi civilians who were killed by our forces and policies...no no...its civil partnerships that this govt will be known for.

[Big Al1st]

Read everything with interest. But I wonder if we are missing the point here.
I look to see how the country has gone over the past few years in my area, which is not inner city.
Population 11,000 and our police station is closing
Litter collection going to once a fortnight
Kids of 10 - 16 causing havoc at 11 and 12 at night
Drunken teenagers on the street every night.
Flats being built of migrant workers local people unable to get housing
Gas and electricity up and my pension hardly moving
Frightened to say what I really think case I get done for hurting someones feelings
Public transport disappearing
Being told where I can smoke.
I could go on and on but I am getting suicidal!!

But at least I can drink all day, soon be able to gamble all day.
Commit crimes and get community service
Bunk off from school
Buy drugs quite freely from school chidren
Get thousands of pounds in benefits
Work till I am 70
Maybe things are'nt so bad after all

[PhilBy]

I've prospered rather well under New labour & every person I know (including those who say they will be voting tory next time)?? have prospered well. I would be interested to hear from those who have not ....... personal experiences only please.

[PhilBy]

Big Al, Surely most of the issues you raise lay at the feet of your Council ..... It's not Tory run is it :)

[sandbach99]

PhilBy I had to finish work before retiring age due to ill health, I have Incapacity benefit, lower rate Disabled Living Allowance and an occupational pension, this pension stops my right to any other benefit. Each income rises by the rate of inflation usually around 2%, and I am not old enough to get help with the additional heating allowance paid to pensioners, it is not paid to the disabled.
Council Tax, gas , water and electric have all increased by more than 2%, these alone wiped out the increase in my income let alone petrol
There are the usual problems with lawlessness, drug abuse etc.
So come on PhilBy tell me how I am better off

[Big Al1st]

Hi Philby, You are probably right to some extent. However you have got to look at funding ect which comes from Central Government.
Pubs opening, super casinos, not being able to clip yobs round the ear and so on is not to do with local councils.
Apart from being slightly flippant it boils down to the "perception" people have of how the country is going.
my perception is it is going downhill rapidly.
Blair was going to be tough on yob culture. When?
Hospitals were going to be sorted. Well he is trying using some Conservative ideas and so on.
I just feel that since this government has been in then I am worse off financially as well as my quality of overall life has gone down.
Big problem what alternatives are there. No real ones that I can see.
I also look at the cringe factor and the Ministers we have currently range from 9 to 10 out of 10. God, they are awful!!

Gromit, They have certainly revolutinised my life, but not for the better!

[PhilBy]

That's what you pay your council tax for Big Al. Not having a go at you here but far too many folk will blame the government for everything when those truly accountable are to be found much nearer to home. Our local authority, whilst being far from perfect are going the extra mile to address the very problems you mention, however, my sister who lives 18 miles away & falls under a different Council is suffering the exact same problems as you are experiencing!?!

[PhilBy]

sandbach99, Whilst being sympathetic to your circumstances there always has been, and I presume always will be a level set at where certain benefits can be paid. I understand your frustration as my mother was caught in the same trap about 20 years ago, she was about �3.00 on the wrong side of the threshold! All I can recommend is that you visit your local CAB. This is what my mother eventually did and they successfully represented her for the higher level of DLA.

May be of no consolation to you but the last tory goverment would of have had you categorised in with all the other sections of society they looked to blame for their poor management of this Country.