Comments on: It’s not over yet http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/ Independent analysis from and about Wales Sat, 11 Feb 2012 08:00:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Go back to your constituencies and prepare for opposition | WalesHome.org http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-586 Go back to your constituencies and prepare for opposition | WalesHome.org Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:02:45 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-586 [...] Cameron” is an observation you overhear wherever you go, and which Lesley Griffiths AM argued on this site last week . While some cling to the coolness of the voters towards the Conservatives as a chink, [...] [...] Cameron” is an observation you overhear wherever you go, and which Lesley Griffiths AM argued on this site last week . While some cling to the coolness of the voters towards the Conservatives as a chink, [...]

]]> By: Jeff Jones http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-549 Jeff Jones Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:17:08 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-549 It would pay Lesley Griffiths to visit W H Smith in Brighton to pick up a copy of this week's Economist.and read the briefing from Pages 29 to 32. It sets out quite clearly the task ahead for any government after 2010. Perhaps we might have in the next few months articles from an Assembly members from all parties setting out where they think the savings should come from in the runup to the Assembly election in 2012. As the quote from Tony Travers points out the UK is now facing another East of Suex moment but this time on the domestic front. This year's Assembly budget is the last reasonable one for years and even then local government is already talking about millions of pounds of cuts in the year 2010/11. It would pay Lesley Griffiths to visit W H Smith in Brighton to pick up a copy of this week’s Economist.and read the briefing from Pages 29 to 32. It sets out quite clearly the task ahead for any government after 2010. Perhaps we might have in the next few months articles from an Assembly members from all parties setting out where they think the savings should come from in the runup to the Assembly election in 2012. As the quote from Tony Travers points out the UK is now facing another East of Suex moment but this time on the domestic front. This year’s Assembly budget is the last reasonable one for years and even then local government is already talking about millions of pounds of cuts in the year 2010/11.

]]> By: Gethin http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-547 Gethin Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:40:54 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-547 The public may not want cuts, but they accept they are inevitable. They may not like cuts, but they dislike dishonesty more. They certainly don't think that being open about this is "a tactical blunder" although certainly friends of mine think Labour's childish 'Labour investment vs. Tory cuts' nonsense was a bad idea - dishonest AND unconvincing. The public may not want cuts, but they accept they are inevitable. They may not like cuts, but they dislike dishonesty more. They certainly don’t think that being open about this is “a tactical blunder” although certainly friends of mine think Labour’s childish ‘Labour investment vs. Tory cuts’ nonsense was a bad idea – dishonest AND unconvincing.

]]> By: Jeff Jones http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-545 Jeff Jones Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:21:17 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-545 All the evidence from opinion polls show that a majority of the public expect the next government whoever they may be to instigate a programme of cuts. Perhaps more inportantly the money markets also expect cuts. The debate until the election should centre on the balance between cuts and tax increases. Sensible politicians in the Labour Party are at last beginning to realise that trotting out the mantra of Labour investment against Tory cuts just want wash with the voters. Labour faces probably its most difficult election since 1983. This short piece suggests that too many in the Party are still in denial and just haven't faced up to what needs to be done. Hopefully for the survival of the Party Darling will in his pre budget report start to show where Labour would start to cut. Defence is an obvious area. We don't need Trident and the two aircraft carriers should be scrapped straight away. The Eurofighter is also a complete waste of money having been designed to take out invading Soviet forces. It will probably never see action. We also have to put ID cards in the bin and look carefully at a number of freegoods that are now provided. There is nothing wrong with free bus passes but the Assembly has to set out what it needs to cut if these bus passes are to be kept. The UK government should scrap the winter fuel allowance for everyone. Reform also has to come in the public sector particularly with regard to pensions. I know that many in the Labour Party will not like any cuts . But what is the alternative? The Tories definitely will implement cuts and if they win the election by a large margin the Labour Party could be out of power for a generation. I lived through the 18 years of Tory government between 1979 and 1997. The crisis facing the Party and the scale of the possible defeat is much greater than 1979. Hoping for something to turnup I'm afraid will not win a vote next year. Voters expect responsible parties to set out how they will restore public finances. Those parties who fail to be straight with the voters cannot expect to be trusted to form the next UK government. It would be a real tragedy if Labour succeeded in stopping the recession turn into a depression and the Tories then benefited from the improvement in the economy. It might not be over until the Fat lady sings. At the moment the Labour Party is failing to lay a glove on the Tories. We are sleep walking towards disaster and they are not even breaking sweat as they coast to victory. All the evidence from opinion polls show that a majority of the public expect the next government whoever they may be to instigate a programme of cuts. Perhaps more inportantly the money markets also expect cuts. The debate until the election should centre on the balance between cuts and tax increases. Sensible politicians in the Labour Party are at last beginning to realise that trotting out the mantra of Labour investment against Tory cuts just want wash with the voters. Labour faces probably its most difficult election since 1983. This short piece suggests that too many in the Party are still in denial and just haven’t faced up to what needs to be done. Hopefully for the survival of the Party Darling will in his pre budget report start to show where Labour would start to cut. Defence is an obvious area. We don’t need Trident and the two aircraft carriers should be scrapped straight away. The Eurofighter is also a complete waste of money having been designed to take out invading Soviet forces. It will probably never see action. We also have to put ID cards in the bin and look carefully at a number of freegoods that are now provided. There is nothing wrong with free bus passes but the Assembly has to set out what it needs to cut if these bus passes are to be kept. The UK government should scrap the winter fuel allowance for everyone. Reform also has to come in the public sector particularly with regard to pensions. I know that many in the Labour Party will not like any cuts . But what is the alternative? The Tories definitely will implement cuts and if they win the election by a large margin the Labour Party could be out of power for a generation. I lived through the 18 years of Tory government between 1979 and 1997. The crisis facing the Party and the scale of the possible defeat is much greater than 1979. Hoping for something to turnup I’m afraid will not win a vote next year. Voters expect responsible parties to set out how they will restore public finances. Those parties who fail to be straight with the voters cannot expect to be trusted to form the next UK government. It would be a real tragedy if Labour succeeded in stopping the recession turn into a depression and the Tories then benefited from the improvement in the economy. It might not be over until the Fat lady sings. At the moment the Labour Party is failing to lay a glove on the Tories. We are sleep walking towards disaster and they are not even breaking sweat as they coast to victory.

]]> By: The level of debt – Freedom Central http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-544 The level of debt – Freedom Central Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:57:02 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-544 [...] Wales Home carries a typically robust and myopic article from Wrexham’s New Labour Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths in which she reveals that she is one of the handful of people who still believe that Labour can win a fourth term at the next General Election. [...] [...] Wales Home carries a typically robust and myopic article from Wrexham’s New Labour Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths in which she reveals that she is one of the handful of people who still believe that Labour can win a fourth term at the next General Election. [...]

]]> By: Marcus Warner http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-542 Marcus Warner Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:57:08 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-542 There can be no doubt these type of articles will be written this week. It brings me no pleasure to the see the end of the Labour Government (well perhaps the onset of a Tory one), but this whole the public haven’t ‘sealed the deal with Cameron’ narrative is rather futile without offering any explanation as to why he now has a 15% lead over Labour. To me Labour blew their chance, a real once in a generation chance to alter the UK forever along progressive lines and realising the voters support of progressive parties (always more than the right-wing parties). However, it didn’t, it reneged on a deal on electoral reform with the Lib Dems and from there power corrupted. So the question that never seem to be answered, even when Gordon Brown was pressed in this week’s New Statesman, is why are we now more unequal than under Thatcher? Why Labour over seen a privatisation far beyond what Thatcher brought in? Why has PFI saddled us with billions of debt even before the economic crisis? Why supposed socialists have been claiming for second home and dodging the tax man? Why has it pandered to the Murdoch press? Why it was zealously in favour of light touch financial regulation and still now only pays lip service to changing it? Why the 10p tax band was removed, costing the poorest most? Why it has oversaw the rise of the BNP in former Labour areas? And let us not mention the Iraq and Afghan wars… It borders on arrogance to say people are voting for other parties out of protest, that all Labour needs is a few balloons and some leaflets and people will come flooding back. The party has lost 4 million voters during its time in office – that is a lot of sustained protests. So while Labour will do all it can to concentrate on the failings of Cameron, it refuses to dare question its record. I know I have focused on the negatives, but how someone can write an article without fair coverage given to why people have deserted Labour is systematic of the problem it faces. “I don’t believe for one moment that Britain has given up on the principles of social justice and fairness…” No, but many people believe the Labour Party has – you just need to look at their 12 year record in Government. There can be no doubt these type of articles will be written this week.

It brings me no pleasure to the see the end of the Labour Government (well perhaps the onset of a Tory one), but this whole the public haven’t ‘sealed the deal with Cameron’ narrative is rather futile without offering any explanation as to why he now has a 15% lead over Labour.

To me Labour blew their chance, a real once in a generation chance to alter the UK forever along progressive lines and realising the voters support of progressive parties (always more than the right-wing parties). However, it didn’t, it reneged on a deal on electoral reform with the Lib Dems and from there power corrupted.

So the question that never seem to be answered, even when Gordon Brown was pressed in this week’s New Statesman, is why are we now more unequal than under Thatcher?

Why Labour over seen a privatisation far beyond what Thatcher brought in? Why has PFI saddled us with billions of debt even before the economic crisis? Why supposed socialists have been claiming for second home and dodging the tax man? Why has it pandered to the Murdoch press? Why it was zealously in favour of light touch financial regulation and still now only pays lip service to changing it? Why the 10p tax band was removed, costing the poorest most? Why it has oversaw the rise of the BNP in former Labour areas? And let us not mention the Iraq and Afghan wars…

It borders on arrogance to say people are voting for other parties out of protest, that all Labour needs is a few balloons and some leaflets and people will come flooding back. The party has lost 4 million voters during its time in office – that is a lot of sustained protests.

So while Labour will do all it can to concentrate on the failings of Cameron, it refuses to dare question its record. I know I have focused on the negatives, but how someone can write an article without fair coverage given to why people have deserted Labour is systematic of the problem it faces.

“I don’t believe for one moment that Britain has given up on the principles of social justice and fairness…”

No, but many people believe the Labour Party has – you just need to look at their 12 year record in Government.

]]> By: dominic hannigan http://waleshome.org/2009/09/we-need-to-believe-in-ourselves/comment-page-1/#comment-541 dominic hannigan Fri, 25 Sep 2009 07:04:29 +0000 http://waleshome.org/?p=2123#comment-541 The single issue that Lesley's argument hinges on is that she believes that the public don't want cuts in expenditure. However, there is a strong acceptance out there that Labour have spent way too much. And when you consider the national debt is increasing by £5,000 per second, you can see why. I'd also point out that while Vince wants to cut the number of government departments and expensive projects, Ed Balls wants to sack hundreds of headteachers , leaving schools without leadership. That is why Lesley Griffiths is wrong. Labour are heading for humiliation, and they have earned it themselves. The single issue that Lesley’s argument hinges on is that she believes that the public don’t want cuts in expenditure. However, there is a strong acceptance out there that Labour have spent way too much. And when you consider the national debt is increasing by £5,000 per second, you can see why.

I’d also point out that while Vince wants to cut the number of government departments and expensive projects, Ed Balls wants to sack hundreds of headteachers , leaving schools without leadership.

That is why Lesley Griffiths is wrong. Labour are heading for humiliation, and they have earned it themselves.

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