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Yes, I'll give you that. I must admit that I had overlooked him. Problem with Frank Field is that he cares, whilst all those around him couldn't give a toss about the people they are supposed to represent.

Redistribution of wealth is needed !

I think Frank Field is one of those rare politicians who appeals to voters regardless of which party they would ideally want to vote for. He could have led any of the three and I think he would have more or less ensured success for that party. The mind boggles on who he would have chosen for his frontbench people though.

Yeh, you give me all of yours !!

Dave Wells wrote:

> Redistribution of wealth is needed !
>
When oh when oh when will people realise that you do not make the poor rich by making the rich poor?

David Johnson wrote:

> "The left spend all the money, the right don't spend enough...
> its never ending!"
>
> Nice slogan but absolutely no basis in truth whatsoever.
>
> Follow the link below and click on the first bar chart. It
> will show you that until the global finance collapse came
> along, the Labour government were no more in deficit than the
> Tories had been in the 90's. In fact from 1998 to the end of
> 2001 the budget was in surplus under Labour, something Thatcher
> never achieved.
>
Are you looking at the right chart? There was a surplus in 1988 and 1989 when Mrs Thatcher was in office...

And oh yes, look at the first two lines ? Britain's deficit is getting worse. The government borrowed more than expected in November, Office for National Statistics data shows - the government borrowed more... so much for the terrible cuts; the appalling austerity measures, etc etc

"Are you looking at the right chart? There was a surplus in 1988 and 1989 when Mrs Thatcher was in office..."

I highlighted the four year period in which the Labour government budget is in surplus. Implicit in my statement is that Thatcher never achieved a 4 year surplus, year on year.

"And oh yes, look at the first two lines ? Britain's deficit is getting worse. The government borrowed more than expected in November, Office for National Statistics data shows - the government borrowed more... so much for the terrible cuts; the appalling austerity measures, etc etc"

This simplistic argument i.e. government borrows more so it mustn't be making "horrible cuts" is often heard, but frequently misguided. I will explain why:

1. Government scares the shit out of population by stating the UK is just like Greece. Mainly so it can crack on and privatise those bits of the "family silver" Thatcher never got around to.

2. Government sacks loads of public sector workers.

3. Population fearful of losing their jobs cut back substantially on spending.

4. Retail and service industry, in general, tanks as a result.

5. Big business very wary of the total lack of growth in the UK economy and consumer confidence being low, holds onto it's cash and avoids investment in the business. Who wants to build a new factory and employ people, if you are experiencing 0 growth in your sales?

6. Government ends up with double dip, possibly triple dip recession.

7. Growth for the last 2 years has been more or less nothing. No growth - no increase in the tax take either PAYE, National Insurance or corporation tax.

8. Government finds, in the absence of growth and any strengthening of tax income, it has to borrow more to service it's debt.

9. Government gets into vicious spiral of increased spending cuts and continuing lack of growth.

If you don't believe me, ask a Greek or a Spaniard etc etc etc. Or indeed any member of the Labour front bench in April 2010 about why Osborne's economic policy would fail.

But you forget the average voter is a idiot especially those of the more essex man type.

They can only explain things when put in very simple terms for example "the economy is like running a household" (the ever droning per election lament of super Dave) of course it's nothing like a household but the proles understand that house bit but don't understand why its rubbish.

I do think the Labour Party could do a hell of a lot more on countering the endless stream of "it's all Labour's fault" i.e. deficit and debt similar to Tories in the 90's prior to global recession. Yes, Labour cocked up bank regulation and even though the Tories would have had less regulation, it was Labour that was in power, so no avoiding the hit on that one.

However, the economy was growing when Labour left office which is more than could be said of the last two years of the coalition.

Maybe Labour should come out with their own "audit" of the coalition's performance and point out that Georgie Boy's economic plans have gone up in smoke for the very reasons that the Labour party gave in the 2010 election campaign.

I don't know who their Communications Director is, but he is doing a poor job as far as I can see.

David Johnson wrote:



>
> 2. Government sacks loads of public sector workers.
>
You jest surely -