The 2015 Popularity Contest (aka UK General Election )

[peteblue]

Let's examine what you are saying here in more detail.

Economic competence:

Labour screwed up the economy is a straightforward untruth.

In Labour’s years in office before the financial crash in 2008 the highest deficit in real terms was 3.3% of GDP in 2004-5. During the Thatcher/Major Tory years the deficit actually exceeded 3.3% of GDP in 10 out of those 18 years! If this is the measure of economic competence, then Labour comes out incomparably better than the Tories. Moreover, whilst Thatcher/Major ran deficits in 16 years out of their 18 and produced minor surpluses in only 2 years, Blair/Brown produced 4 years of surpluses.

So if Labour didn’t wreck the economy, what did? It is too readily assumed it was the bankers’ bailout. In fact the buying of stakes in the banks (to the tune of £68bn) did not directly have an impact on the revenue budget and the deficit and should ultimately provide a positive return for taxpayers.

The greatest impact was the dramatic drop in public tax revenues which was a direct result of the global financial crash and the consequent recession. In the 6 years leading up to 2007-8 there was a remarkably consistent straight line growth trend in public revenues of about 6% a year, i.e. real growth. Public revenues in 2007-8 were £549bn. Based on this trend, a reasonable forecast would have predicted further increases in income in the next 2 years, leading to a predicted income of about £620bn in 2009-10. But as a direct result of the global financial crash and the consequent recession, actual public income was only £512bn in 2009-10.

That loss of nearly £110bn is the key cause of the deficit immediately after and in subsequent years. More than 1/6th of the Government's income was wiped out through no direct fault of their own.

As to allowing a politician to look after assets, let's turn the question around. Is Cameron the right guy to look after the NHS, our welfare system and our education system - collectively our greatest national assets. The evidence is no.

They simply spent and borrowed too much. Classic recipe for disaster........they destroyed the UK pensions and destroyed a number of major industrial giants in the process.......then borrowed some more......

 

[peteblue]

Love how the right are still blaming Labour for the WORLD financial crisis.

You forgot to say the Brown mantra of "which started in America".........

 

[Jib in lad]

You forgot to say the Brown mantra of "which started in America".........

And you forgot to say it was Thatcher and Reagan who deregulated the banks in the first place which eventually led to the world financial crisis.

 

[peteblue]

And you forgot to say it was Thatcher and Reagan who deregulated the banks in the first place which eventually led to the world financial crisis.

It wasn't a world financial crisis.......And nicely turned back onto Maggie Thatcher who had been out of office for how long.......

 

[Clint Planet]

I don't see why the PM of any pursuasion should allow the media to determine what debates will or will not take place. Instead of continuously talking to each other I'd rather they get out and face real people.....

I can't see much wrong with a PM being challenged face to face on issues of the day by his opponents.

 

[The Esk]

They simply spent and borrowed too much.

That's simply untrue as I demonstrated in my post. It's what the current Government want everyone to believe but the facts are to the contrary.

 

[Jib in lad]

It wasn't a world financial crisis.......And nicely turned back onto Maggie Thatcher who had been out of office for how long.......

As you mentioned her I thought it would be useful to put the blame where it lies so I repeat the big bang was her idea she deregulated the banks and a financial crisis happened that is just a fact.

 

[peteblue]

I can't see much wrong with a PM being challenged face to face on issues of the day by his opponents.

Nor me, that's what PMQ's are for.......

 

[peteblue]

That's simply untrue as I demonstrated in my post. It's what the current Government want everyone to believe but the facts are to the contrary.

Even Frank Field understood that the benefits bill blew up out of all proportion. They also raided the pensions of everyone in Industry and with cunning stunts like the 3G licensing managed to destroy the UK Telecoms manufacturing industry, (see Edge Lane).........

 

[Clint Planet]

I honestly find it baffling that anyone could see that Milliband as a competent PM.

The exact same was said of Cameron five or six years ago, mate, remember? I didn't fancy Blair or Thatcher, either, beforehand.

 

[peteblue]

As you mentioned her I thought it would be useful to put the blame where it lies so I repeat the big bang was her idea she deregulated the banks and a financial crisis happened that is just a fact.

So the PM's of John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown just twiddled their thumbs and took no notice. Here's one for you, Merseyside Football teams kept winning the Title while Maggie was in power and have not won it since she resigned, is that down to her as well then......

 

[Clint Planet]

Nor me, that's what PMQ's are for.......

Sadly, that's a fiasco these days. So much for the legislature keeping the executive in check.

 

[Clint Planet]

it is ALL about having a ticking economy, because without that, everything else can sit in an out tray somewhere.

And it is moving in the right direction.

It's really not, mate. Not in the long run.

 

[peteblue]

Sadly, that's a fiasco these days. So much for the legislature keeping the executive in check.

I agree, but Blair changed it from twice a week to once a week because he didn't fancy it. Questions should be asked and answered properly, not just the questioner slagging off or creeping upto the PM and answers should be clear and devoid of party politics........

 

[Clint Planet]

Here's one for you, Merseyside Football teams kept winning the Title while Maggie was in power and have not won it since she resigned, is that down to her as well then......

You're getting silly there, mate. Play it straight, will you.

It is a fact that "the big bang," i.e. a huge deregulation of The City, was a Thatcherite cornerstone. There are few credible people around who will claim that that deregulation wasn't a major (if not THE major) cause of the current financial crisis.

Simply put, the rules were relaxed so that money could chase more money (and the sponsors of the Tory party could fill their boots) and it all ended up pretty ugly.