General Chat

I think alot of you people must be living in a differant country than me. In the last eight years everybody i know is better off than they ever were before.I think Michael Howard is doing the first decent thing he's ever done.(going) Gill

There were some interesting points made by everyone on this thread, just shows how clued up the electorate are now! Personally, I would like to see a coalition of the best men/women from all Parties forming the next govt. Dream on! Lily (Lifelong Liberal)

It's true that the unemployment figures are artificially depressed by several categories that have expanded in recent years. Not only is there a higher proportion of single mothers on benefits; doctors are signing far more onto long term sick benefits, particularly those over 50, as that gives the patient more money than being on the dole; the Government has taken on more employees in 'non-jobs', far more than in front line services; schemes like the Congestion charge (750 in Coventry?) need hundreds of people to administer; the extra 4,000 speed cameras soak up people to empty the films, process them, send out tickets, collect the fines, add points to licences - all of which adds not a penny to the Country's wealth. More kids are staying on at school and University, maybe not a bad thing in itself, but until they leave education they are not in the labour market.

Peter sounds to me like you are a bitter man must be all those sour grapes you have eaten over the last couple of days! Dave apart from that this is congrats thread you dont have to come on it if you dont feel like congratulating Tony Blair. Start your own thread if you are not happy.

Peter, It's irrelevant as to whether I am a tax payer or on social security for 2 reasons (at least). 1 my present circumstances are unlikely to be a reflection of my life/contribution as a whole and that's what really counts and 2 my personal circumstances make this discussion far too insular and personal, and frankly are no-one elses business. 'Giver', 'taker', we all do both at some time or other. Back to the general discussion though. You mentioned Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair as if there was nothing in between, but there was. Also, single mothers drawing benefit, men malingering and so on are not issues solely present in a Labour government, and no, I don't fit into either of those categories.

Not all of them Peter. Do none of them work where you live?

Bendy I'll make sure I carry a wee GR flag with me and give you a wave!!! lol

Jill - be sure to wear a big red flower on your jacket so we know it's you !!

hmmmmmm .....well i'm not gonna comment on the politics side of things however.......Gordon Brown lives just up the road from me when in Scotland so if he becomes PM I'll need to wear me slap (make up) everyday in case I get noticed by all the media around eh!!! lmao...I'll wave to you all thru the tele!! Bet he dont send his wee boy to the local school tho! jill x

Goodness Peter - is every single mother in your city really claiming benefits?

lol Brian - those figures were plucked out of the air as examples. If only 15 million people were eligible to work during the Thatcher government then the 3million unemployed quoted would be 20% unemployment. If the 8 million unemployed you told us about are taken from an eligible work force of 80 million people then the figure is 10% unemployment. It's the percentage of unemployment that counts not the basic figure. That is why I asked what the percentage figure was.

night all i enjoyed your company it was a good laugh

Hi Brian - what I was wondering is: if 8 million unemployed now represents 5% and 3 million then represented 25% then it's no worse now - I'm not fighting with you I just wondered if anyone has the answer

my god brian you are in a sorry state i think you should go and have a good nights sleep

Hi Brian - what percentage of the nation is that compared to the figures being quoted during Mrs Thatcher's years?

peter why do you think felicty might be a taker and what differance dose that make i am sure she is not a sponger she may have contributed more than you infer she is only giving her opinion take the chip of your shoulder man.

under maggie we had 3million unemployed thats not a good state of affairs labour got the country back to work maggie destroyed the miners the steelworks the shipyards i could go on and on, i am in transport brian.

cheer up brian, you have a short memory what about maggie she left us in a fine state

Peter, Britian has been more expensive that the rest of Europe for far longer than Labour has been in government this time round. It has been a long-running complaint by some that 'we' subsidise the EU to too great an extent for example. My point really is that all things are cyclical and there will always be complaints no matter who is in power. Had the Tories won the election there would still be unhappy voters. Whether I pay taxes or claim social security has no relevance to this discussion. Why do you ask about it?

i speak for myself peter my buisness is booming under a labour goverment why should i change it and take the risk if its not broken dont mend it, i spoke to tony six weeks ago and he tells me gordon will be pm in about 18 months another good scotsman