Quizzes & Puzzles3 mins ago
Conservative C*ck-up? Or Honest MP?
The Shadow Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley MP, let it slip today on Radio 4 that a Tory Government would reduce public spending by 10% after 2011. Was this a right royal gaffe by Mr Lansley, or a deliberate "slip of the tongue" to test public reaction? Or could this be why David Cameron has been so reticent about Tory policies should he become PM?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I don't know if it was deliberate or not. What would be nice though is if someone had the guts to come out and say that the spending spree we've been on has got to be paid for, and that's only going to happen by cuts in public spending, increased taxation, or a combination of the two,
That's the reality of the situation for the next few years whichever party is in power, so if any politician says any different they're either lying or deluded.
That's the reality of the situation for the next few years whichever party is in power, so if any politician says any different they're either lying or deluded.
Every Labour government leaves the country horribly in debt, then the tories have to come in and balance the books. Then labour promises all sorts of tax cuts and spending sprees and the whole cycle starts again.
If you spend what you haven't got you get into debt! At some point someone has to get down to work and earn some more money to refill the coffers.
Profit has become a dirty word but if you don't have profitable busnesses there is no money earnt.
If you spend what you haven't got you get into debt! At some point someone has to get down to work and earn some more money to refill the coffers.
Profit has become a dirty word but if you don't have profitable busnesses there is no money earnt.
Gordon Brown has been the ultimate socialist.
Giving money away (or spending it), without a care in the world about how it is going to be paid for, or encouraging new companies and business to start up to help pay for it.
His idea is to "drag everyone down to the same level".
His has done untold damage to this country and we may never recover from it.
Many of the companies and businesses that have closed down will never reopen, or if they do it will be in Eastern Europe or other countries where it is cheaper to make things.
Vote Labour - Bankrupt the country.
Giving money away (or spending it), without a care in the world about how it is going to be paid for, or encouraging new companies and business to start up to help pay for it.
His idea is to "drag everyone down to the same level".
His has done untold damage to this country and we may never recover from it.
Many of the companies and businesses that have closed down will never reopen, or if they do it will be in Eastern Europe or other countries where it is cheaper to make things.
Vote Labour - Bankrupt the country.
Any party is going to have to make big spending cuts to pay for bailing out the banks.
Just be glad Gordon did that.
If you have a load or a mortgage or even work for an organisation that had a loan - When that bank failed those loans wouldn't have just vanished they'd have had to be repaid.
And getting a replacement loan when nobody was handing them out would have been nigh on impossible.
The result would have been devastating.
That's why Cameron and Co. are going on about the state of the public finances without actually saying they would have done it differently - they wouldn't have, in fact they couldn't have they're just trying to get you to think that somehow it would have been better without details.
That's modern politics
These cuts in public spending are the result of that inevitable borrowing, for many of us the price of still having a roof over our heads.
Just be glad Gordon did that.
If you have a load or a mortgage or even work for an organisation that had a loan - When that bank failed those loans wouldn't have just vanished they'd have had to be repaid.
And getting a replacement loan when nobody was handing them out would have been nigh on impossible.
The result would have been devastating.
That's why Cameron and Co. are going on about the state of the public finances without actually saying they would have done it differently - they wouldn't have, in fact they couldn't have they're just trying to get you to think that somehow it would have been better without details.
That's modern politics
These cuts in public spending are the result of that inevitable borrowing, for many of us the price of still having a roof over our heads.
change the kin record jake, we know Brown had no choice, Cameron would have done the same stop trying to portray GB as some sort of saviour, it happenned on his watch he dealt with it, the solution was made for him as it would have been if mickey mouse was PM.
Anyway to answer the question public spending needs to be cut by bl00dy 50%, If I was Cameron I'd be shouting it from the roof tops. Cut the public sector to the bear minimum starting with the vastly over funded NHS, cut benefits except to the needy and sack ll those useless J Arthurs doing nothing jobs in Town halls all over the country, you know all the non jobs they advertise in the Guardian.
Anyway to answer the question public spending needs to be cut by bl00dy 50%, If I was Cameron I'd be shouting it from the roof tops. Cut the public sector to the bear minimum starting with the vastly over funded NHS, cut benefits except to the needy and sack ll those useless J Arthurs doing nothing jobs in Town halls all over the country, you know all the non jobs they advertise in the Guardian.
Brown should have done more to take a larger slice in the banks. Then he could have controlled the payments and bonuses to the over hyped directors.
Interestingly the bank we do own, Northern Rock is to be sold in the Autumn retrieving much of the taxpayers money. Whats that saying 'buy when cheap, sell at a good profit'. Thats what we could have done with these financial institutions.
Interestingly the bank we do own, Northern Rock is to be sold in the Autumn retrieving much of the taxpayers money. Whats that saying 'buy when cheap, sell at a good profit'. Thats what we could have done with these financial institutions.
It was probably a mistake as all Conservative policies are kept secret from the electorate.
I cannot believe they have not worked out their policies, so it is extremely odd that they do not want to tell us what they are.
It could be that they are frightened about Labour stealing their policies, but that doesn't really stand up, as the Government's programme is outlined in the Queen's speech.
Or, it could be that they do not want their policies scrutinised and debated, like they are being now with this 10% reduction in spending.
And that is why the Tories have been very poor in opposition. An effective opposition not only tells us when the Government have got it wrong, but they should also tell us how they would do things differently.
This failure makes them look weak. That is why, despite everything that has happened to Gordon Brown over the past year, Cameron is unable to deliver the winning punch during PMQs.
I cannot believe they have not worked out their policies, so it is extremely odd that they do not want to tell us what they are.
It could be that they are frightened about Labour stealing their policies, but that doesn't really stand up, as the Government's programme is outlined in the Queen's speech.
Or, it could be that they do not want their policies scrutinised and debated, like they are being now with this 10% reduction in spending.
And that is why the Tories have been very poor in opposition. An effective opposition not only tells us when the Government have got it wrong, but they should also tell us how they would do things differently.
This failure makes them look weak. That is why, despite everything that has happened to Gordon Brown over the past year, Cameron is unable to deliver the winning punch during PMQs.
I love the notion that all the problems in the world's economy is down to this government.
This is a world economic meltdown, is it this governments's fault Iceland went bankrupt?
FFS, Iceland!
They're hardly a nation renowned for economic profligacy are they, or are they?
Look at the alternitive to banking crisis, Argentina.
We've still got their money, don't believe me?
Ask the H.S.B.C, Argentina followed the I.M.F model to the letter, the government here did'nt reregulate or over regulate the banking system and the Tories were happy to go along.
Imagine if Labour in power made it more difficult for people to get mortgages etc?
The press would have a field day.
Iceland's now repaid it's money to us, and as far as I know we own the shares in the banks so when things finally improve we can sell them.
Northern Rock's already paid a large proportion of the money it owes to us.
This is a world economic meltdown, is it this governments's fault Iceland went bankrupt?
FFS, Iceland!
They're hardly a nation renowned for economic profligacy are they, or are they?
Look at the alternitive to banking crisis, Argentina.
We've still got their money, don't believe me?
Ask the H.S.B.C, Argentina followed the I.M.F model to the letter, the government here did'nt reregulate or over regulate the banking system and the Tories were happy to go along.
Imagine if Labour in power made it more difficult for people to get mortgages etc?
The press would have a field day.
Iceland's now repaid it's money to us, and as far as I know we own the shares in the banks so when things finally improve we can sell them.
Northern Rock's already paid a large proportion of the money it owes to us.
The only idea the Conservatives revealed for dealing with the banking crisis and its effects on the economy was...
A temporary cut in National Insurance contributions.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7679168 .stm
Pathetic.
A temporary cut in National Insurance contributions.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7679168 .stm
Pathetic.
FFS Geezer.
Are you re-writing history or what?
Cameron did not support the Labour Governments plans for getting out of this mess, they opposed it at every turn.
Not it appears it might be working and we can de-national some of the assets we have bought, you are saying Cameron would have done exactly the same thing.
Utter rubbish.
Are you re-writing history or what?
Cameron did not support the Labour Governments plans for getting out of this mess, they opposed it at every turn.
Not it appears it might be working and we can de-national some of the assets we have bought, you are saying Cameron would have done exactly the same thing.
Utter rubbish.