Last year was a roller coaster ride of a year for Nick Clegg and the Liberal Democrats with its highs and lows in the polls, the decision for them to form a Coalition Government was not easy, they had no option as no one party had actually won the election.
A discredited Labour government had decisively lost, leaving the country with billions of debt, a quick solution had to be found otherwise the financial problems that were arising in other European countries like Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Spain were likely to spread to this country, due to the impending uncertainty of the financial markets there was no time for dithering or procrastination.
Putting their political differences aside the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Parties in the interest of the country and its people uppermost, the first real Coalition since the war was formed, Coalition governments in Europe have been successful, in this country many of our local councils are run through a coalition of different political parties, including even more significantly the assemblies of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland .
Whilst the Liberal Democrats are the junior party in the coalition they have faced many tough challenges and decisions since the General Election. Nevertheless they have been able to curtail some of the less desirable Conservative policies, they have also been able to introduce real reforming policies in Westminster, nearly a million of the country’s lowest earners will be taken out of income tax, the link between pensions and earnings will give pensioners a much needed increase, the abolition of the I.D. Card will save millions of pounds, the pupil premium would not exist without the Liberal Democrats being in Government, £2.5 billion extra will benefit the poorest children, the spending review protected school funding at a flat cash per pupil rate, as pupil numbers increase the overall budget goes up as well, one of the biggest bones of contention in the country is the way bankers and directors award themselves large bonuses. A banking levy is to be introduced which will raise nearly £3 billion; banks will also be coerced into lending more money to businesses. Capital gains tax will be raised to 28% for higher rate tax payers, The Localism Bill with its powerful new rights will put real power in the hands of real people, “local decisions by local people” this will benefit and improve the lives of many thousands of people which they would have been unable to do if the Liberal Democrats were still in opposition.
This year will give the Coalition Government perhaps some even tougher decisions to be made, yet the opposition Labour Party even with a new leader have still to come forward with any substantive proposals and plans for the future, they failed us before can they ever be trusted again?
Bill Furness
(EXECUTIVE MEMBER OF NORTH THANET LIBERAL DEMOCRATS)
For those who know little of politics its clear, that both of the coalition parties have made the best of a very bad mess, created by Labour.
ReplyDeleteI think it works well to see to two sides cooperate and work together a boast to our political system.
A pity Labour cannot be more constructive and less abusive.
Well done Cameron and Clegg
I am sure there will be some, Anon, who will agree with you, though the current opinion poll ratings for the Liberal Democrats would suggest far fewer feel positive about Clegg.
ReplyDeleteCooperation, and coalition, means compromise, and inevitably some apsects of both Parties' policies have to be adapted to fit a new consensus agenda. The Lib Dem mistake has been to allow that to happen with policies - such as tutition fees - that they have made core to their manifesto and promises to the electorate.
To go as far as signing written pledges committing to not increasing the fees, and then reneging on the pleadges once in power goes far beyond the compromise most would view as necessary, appropriate and acceptable. That is why people are so angry at the Lib Dems.
The argument, perpetuated by Mr Flaig, that as neither Party - Tory or Lib Dem - won a majority in the Election all policy and manifesto bets are null and void is crass and unsustainable.
Bill is so right, many European countries were in a financial mess created by the banks. In our case the UK banks were bailed out to the tune of £850 billions. That rather makes the coalitions banking levy of £3 billions seem like chicken feed. Only this week the bonuses for UK bank's workers is put at in excess of £10 billions. Looks like the levy is nothing to boast about.
ReplyDeleteNot everything in the coalition is as rosy as Bill would like us to believe. Libdem have lost nearly two thirds of their support and there is much disquiet amoungst Libdem MP's including those in government.
It seems like the haste will cause problems. Todays government report on the axing of quangoes is not good news for the coalition.
Maybe Bill can tell Thanet's residents how they are to manage with the cutting of benifits, support for social housing withdrawn, crumbling schools that will not be replaced, the VAT increase and price increases that will be a knock on and all those other grants from SEEDA and other government depts that came Thanets way.
The last comment highlights yet again that inability by supporters of the left to grasp that there is a financial crisis and a serious budget deficit. That is why monies coming into Thanet, as with all other local authorities, have had to be cut.
ReplyDeleteThe comment on crumbling schools also displays another lack of grasp on realities. Some of our school buildings, Clarendon House for example, were reported as unfit for the purpose over 50 years ago so to blame any one administration for the condition now is unrealistic.
The BSF programme did some good but the cost in the present financial climate is unsustainable. The PFI route is now even condemned as a mistake in financially aware left wing circles so that is not the answer.
In the real world, we have to create the wealth and income before we can spend it as most of us do in our everyday lives.
Oh, and before the usual twittering left wing scribes come in with their tax the bankers and rich schemes, that also doesn't work and makes the economy worse, which is why neither Blair or Brown did it.
I thought we were all in this alltogether. But no, TDC is in the list of 12 councils that will suffer the most cuts and with its large population (8000+) not in work, the economy of Thanet will suffer more than any other in the South East because of the measures taken that will hit the poorest.
ReplyDeleteThe city bankers are clearly not in this with Thanet's population. Its not just the unemployed that will suffer but also those business where they shop. Like many other countries we may have a financial mess to sort out but its not been done in a fair way.
I thought we were all in this alltogether. But no, TDC is in the list of 12 councils that will suffer the most cuts and with its large population (8000+) not in work, the economy of Thanet will suffer more than any other in the South East because of the measures taken that will hit the poorest.
ReplyDeleteThe city bankers are clearly not in this with Thanet's population. Its not just the unemployed that will suffer but also those business where they shop. Like many other countries we may have a financial mess to sort out but its not been done in a fair way.
Finger trouble again, 3:54, you really should get help. Oh, and by the way, your information is crap!
ReplyDeleteAnon 4.00 you are right, according to the TDC web site's own data there are a total of 14,700 (20.6%) economically inactive persons in Thanet.
ReplyDeleteBut you must have a short memory too, the BBC listed Thanet as one of the 12 "hardest hit" in the country alongside Preston, Hastings and Great Yarmouth.
And since you know best why have KCC and partners speculated £16,000,000 on a contemporary art gallery in Margate? Why has the Margate Renewal Partnership been set up? Not because Thanet is thriving.
Anon 6:43 is yet another with a few facts but crap conclusions. Lot of it about these days.
ReplyDeleteBluenote, you suggest that PFI was introduced by Labour. It was not. It was a policy and practice of the previous Tory Administration that many in the Labour Party felt uneasy about continuing. The leadership liked it though. Just like most of Thatcher's policies and decisions, history is now viewing it with jaundiced eyes.
ReplyDeleteAnon 8:04AM, I never said PFI was introduced by Labour, although as you admit, it was used by the last Labour administration extensively for hospital and school building. What I said is that, it is now recognised as a mistake by informed left wing opinion for it simply stacks up debt for the future.
ReplyDeleteLove your return to the old theme of knocking Thatcher. Personally I think it is all down to Attlee's post war government who tried to fund a socialist utopia when we were crippled by war debt. Whilst other European nations, including our former enemies, worked to rebuild their shattered countries, Attlee's clueless administration were introducing 'free' everything and ground nut schemes in Kenya.
Labour cannot, and never could, run a piss up in a brewery let alone a country!
No Bluenote, I think we should return to the social reformers of the 19th century!
ReplyDeleteMy reference to Thatcher was merely to point out that the PFI policy is now viewed as far less attractive than it once was - a judgement of recent history - in the same way as once popular Thatcherite policies are now being condemned.
As to your last question, do try to curb your obsessive hatred - it makes you look so dark! The Tories can run things better, I guess, but only when their hands are in the tills of the operation and they can benefit personally through business connections. Such a great motivator.
But just to give you a Saturday night boost and get your usual juices flowing, I hate Thatcher with a vengeance and will happily dance on her grave or ashes plot- if for no other purpose than to prove the bitch is dead.
ReplyDelete3 billion is chump change to the banks, some of the individual bonuses were in the billions.
ReplyDeleteHere is an insight into just how deceptive puppet politics is, don't miss out on this insider knowledge about Commie Ronnie Reagan and how he was being blackmailed to toe the globalist line.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt2DuITsg5g
To 7:38PM Whatever gives you your kicks. Grave dancing is not my scene I'm happy to say.
ReplyDeleteFollowed your link 11:12PM and, as ever, it is totally unbelievable. All one can say is that you really do know how to find those with vivid imaginations.
ReplyDeleteOK 7:15, how about this one?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.opinion-maker.org/2010/08/why-obama-is-subjected-to-blackmails/
Perhaps those who used to vote for/be members of the Lib Dems but are no longer backing them because they assumed the Lib Dems would jump straight into bed with Labour nationally should take a long, hard look at themselves and ponder whether they were ever Lib Dems in the first place?
ReplyDeleteWell, what about that one 11:05? Still utter drivel though made me laugh in places so thanks for that.
ReplyDelete"People who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being governed by those who are dumber."
ReplyDelete— Plato
And pleeeeeease. Can everyone stop talking about roller-coaster rides!!!!! This has to be the most over used cliche in existence.
Plato, wasn't he a dog that used to hang about with a smart arse mouse called Mickey?
ReplyDelete