What do you like most about our wonderful Tory Government?

[Moshe Gariani]

[/B] I would suggest that it is your position based on what you want to believe and the evidence that you then seek out.

and that would be extremely arrogant and complacent...

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

I didn't vote for them, (even though I drive a Range Rover and read the FT) but they have been given a mandate under our election system to govern, applying their policies and beliefs, for the first time since 1997, so they should be allowed to govern.

........

They didn't expect to win in May, but having done so, instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to build a better nation they have behaved like a lottery winner spunking their good fortune on hookers on cocaine.

That just about sums up my position.

I used to be more partisan in my politics but now I just want a government who will do their best for the nation as a whole. I was actually one of those slightly relieved the morning after the election that Ed Miliband was not prime minister (sorry Mother). Cameron won the election, as you say, albeit much to his surprise and now had an opportunity to implement his own philosophy and policies. It is easy the morning after an election to be inclusive - remember Maggie quoting St Francis of Assisi - but Cameron had an opportunity to make this country a better place, more at ease with itself. For the reasons you set out it is not looking promising at this moment.

Why seem to be led by political pygmies. And I include all parties in that, except possibly Nicola Sturgeon - who I wish was leading a national party.

 

[Guinness Boy]

I like the bit where someone who didn't get a post in power tipped off one of the most obsequious publications among the Tory press that the Prime Minister once skull f***ed a pig.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

How many people have you met who shag pigs?

Well I'd had a few pints ........................

 

[beorhthelm]

I almost wrote "his intention and ability...." but thought better of it. My daughter, who works in Local Government in South Wales, wrote a blog about voting and so on before the last election, and she wrote something about politicians of all parties being in politics for the right reasons, but just differing in their approach to things.

think your daughter's hit the nail on the head. and your corollary to Tebbit is fair. alas the best intentions get distracted and diluted, for example the "bed room tax" which was never originally intended to save money necessarily but free up and reallocate social housing to address needs. it got warped by the austerity hammer and ended up a toxic policy. the thing about the idea of deserving and undeserving poor is, im afraid, its real. there are those that neither nor care or want to better themselves (despite protestations), because why bother? some would rather nick the neighbors bike and cycle down the park to muck about all day instead of working.

 

[wellquickwoody]

My own situation is one of extreme comfort relative to 99% of the people on this planet.

Bit of champagne socialism going on me thinks........

 

[8ace]

 

[Hastings gull]

I rest my case
I have worked all my adult life 45 years of paying my taxes and national insurance never once in all that time claiming any benefits what so ever
I wont go into to much detail of my employment but through initially an illness and then a combination of NHS waiting followed by having to jump through a series of red tape hoops i am now thankfully returning to my employment after seven months off
How about living for seven months on £35 a WEEK (esa) employment support allowance
And then to rub salt into the wounds after two months off i needed 2 teeth extracted and as i was in receipt of e.s.a i was exempt from the £18 dental fee.. WRONG!! six weeks later i get a letter telling me i was fined £100 plus the original £18 for wrongly claiming free dental treatment, apparently i was on the wrong type of e.s.a contributions based and not earnings based.
I was 60 in May this year unfortunate on my part, because had my birthday been a mere 19 days later i would become entitled to my old age pension at 65 now i have to work another year till I'm 66, ok there are a lot who will be worse off in the coming years on that score but as i said 45 years of national insurance contributions only to have £8000 at todays rates stolen from me
And don't get me started on the free bus pass(not that i would ever use it) or indeed the winter fuel payment again entitled at the age of 60... WRONG.. those damn 19 days again, but even more annoying when i have a brother who has been getting it for five years >>> oh well "were all in this together".. WRONG ..were in it and your getting us out of it even though its in our DNA to do what were doing
ordinary working people voting Tory is like turkeys voting for Christmas

Are you saying the £35.00 per week was your sole income? Then, if that is the case, you would understandably be annoyed after paying in for so long. I am not sure that the final highlighted para can be put at any politician's door -you might be annoyed about the 19 days and your brother (was he younger or older?) but if you are not entitled, then that is the case, surely. Or do you think that paying in for a long period alone entitles you to special treatment? And if you do, then everyone can claim extra benefits by the same token.

 

[Hastings gull]

and that would be extremely arrogant and complacent...

Anyone can write that my position is entirely rational based on the evidence - and then provide none . .

 

[beorhthelm]

George Osborne has created more debt than every Labour government in history

yep, so you are saying we should cut far more. the deficit is about 170m, or 23% of the total spend. so if we cut spending 23% across the board, the government (of any hue) will be able to balance the budget. that is what you are saying, you do understand this?

or we could wait for growth, which at an historic average 2.5% would take a fair few years to eat away at that deficit, assuming of course all spending were frozen for those years. you understand this?

then we can start to talk about how to address the debt, admittedly it doesn't have to be zero, but its probably better to be lower than it is, at a level where we spend more on debt interest than on defense. you understand this?

 

[Pavilionaire]

...and still managed to increase the deficit every year since they've been back inpower.

Which is why they've sought to cut the welfare budget, close tax avoidance loopholes and change the corporation tax rules for Google, Facebook, Starbucks and all the other multinational tax dodgers.

Technically, they were not "in power" from 2010-2015, they were in a coalition government and so I don't accept you can hold the Tories solely responsible for that period. There's no doubt the belt-tightening would have been a damn sight tighter without the Lib Dems.

 

[Megazone]

yep, so you are saying we should cut far more. the deficit is about 170m, or 23% of the total spend. so if we cut spending 23% across the board, the government (of any hue) will be able to balance the budget. that is what you are saying, you do understand this?

or we could wait for growth, which at an historic average 2.5% would take a fair few years to eat away at that deficit, assuming of course all spending were frozen for those years. you understand this?

then we can start to talk about how to address the debt, admittedly it doesn't have to be zero, but its probably better to be lower than it is, at a level where we spend more on debt interest than on defense. you understand this?

I'm not Nibbles biggest fan but that really is a patronising response.

You understand this right?

 

[Nibble]

yep, so you are saying we should cut far more. the deficit is about 170m, or 23% of the total spend. so if we cut spending 23% across the board, the government (of any hue) will be able to balance the budget. that is what you are saying, you do understand this?

or we could wait for growth, which at an historic average 2.5% would take a fair few years to eat away at that deficit, assuming of course all spending were frozen for those years. you understand this?

then we can start to talk about how to address the debt, admittedly it doesn't have to be zero, but its probably better to be lower than it is, at a level where we spend more on debt interest than on defense. you understand this?

I'll ignore the childish tone of your post and address the point I was making. The Tory's are hypocrites and liars.

 

[El Presidente]

I'll ignore the childish tone of your post and address the point I was making. The Tory's are hypocrites and liars.

That is true, but does that set them apart from the other parties, who are all self serving and would sell their grandmothers for a majority?

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I'd never in my life vote for them, because they're not called The Nasty Party for nothing. OK, they've toned down their act a bit since the days of the evil bitch, or just got more sly about it, but I have to admit to a vested-interest liking for Gideon's opening up of pension freedom. Means that I and millions like me don't have to submit to a piss-poor insulting level of annuity and can leave whatever I don't spend to me kids.Gideon has given the fat-cat pension providers a good slapping and reminded them exactly who the money actually belongs to. Oh, and all the liberated millions get to boost the economy in a way it wouldn't have otherwise been boosted. Genuine fair play for that at least.

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

they've created loads of jobs in the food bank sector

 

[Diego Napier]

While I disagree with some of the current Tory policies and I find the whole "being a Tory" thing fairly reprehensible, there is till something re-assuring about their political competence in government. I have to say, on the issue of competence, when I look at the opposition benches words fail me.

That is interesting, I think a lot of people are reassured by them but then, it is difficult to get to grips with exactly why. Certainly, in contrast with the seething contortions of the labour party as it struggles to reshape/redefine itself and adopt a relevant 21st century persona, they appear a party of calm authority, basking as they do in the post-orgasmic glow of their election success. Europe and the backbenchers are very much on the back burner, although we all know honeymoons don't last forever.

Is it their privileged backgrounds, upbringing and wealth that reassures? Many are still sub-consciously impressed by the ruling elite, the old feudal hegemony still influences, however subliminally. I suspect there is also an element of aspiration involved, "I'd like to be like them".

Is it their track record that reassures? It depends on which yardstick is used to measure their success. Many people view immigration as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has failed. Many people view Government debt as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has failed. Many people view tax as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has partially succeeded. Many people view education as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has failed. Many view housing as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has failed. Many view social cohesion as the biggest yardstick; tory policy has failed

Is it that labour were in government during the financial crisis of 20007-8 and the tories weren't? Perception is all. Rational thought and impartial evidence leads us to understand it was a banking crisis not caused by government overspending yet the continual message over the last 5 years that it was labour profligacy has stuck in the public consciousness. This has been amplified by the "austerity" (for some) message that we are all still suffering as a result of their poor stewardship.

Is it because the tories are just more competent that reassures? Well they might appears so at the moment but the reality is (thank goodness) that there is a vast panoply of civil servant experience ready to hold the hand of any government, it is they who are competent and, apart from rare lapses, ensure good governance in spite of not because of the political party in power.

Is it because of our adversarial political system? Certainly many people like to keep things simple and think of the political party they support in the same way they think of their football team, blind faith support regardless of performance. It has to be black or white, love 'em or hate 'em. I suspect currently the tories are able to rely on this far more heavily than labour!

Is it because they dress better and look more smart that reassures? Undoubtedly, when politicians are ushered nightly into our living rooms courtesy of the BBC or ITV etc. then style over substance does matter to many.

I'm not necessarily suggesting that any of these factors are influencing you. Although Douglas Adams wrote "Everything you see or hear or experience in any way at all is specific to you. You create a universe by perceiving it, so everything in the universe you perceive is specific to you", I still suspect that there's a strong element of perception over reality in all things political.

 

[simmo]

I'll ignore the childish tone of your post and address the point I was making. The Tory's are hypocrites and liars.

Unlike Dianne Abbott, Tony Blair and Nick Clegg.

 

[alfredmizen]

I'd never in my life vote for them, because they're not called The Nasty Party for nothing. OK, they've toned down their act a bit since the days of the evil bitch, or just got more sly about it, but I have to admit to a vested-interest liking for Gideon's opening up of pension freedom. Means that I and millions like me don't have to submit to a piss-poor insulting level of annuity and can leave whatever I don't spend to me kids.Gideon has given the fat-cat pension providers a good slapping and reminded them exactly who the money actually belongs to. Oh, and all the liberated millions get to boost the economy in a way it wouldn't have otherwise been boosted. Genuine fair play for that at least.

Good luck with that if mcdonnell has his way

 

[Moshe Gariani]

Bit of champagne socialism going on me thinks........

Hardly. To be well off compared to 99% of the planet does not mean there is much Champagne being quaffed. If you want an honest insight to my own consumption then it involves taking cans of supermarket beer (c.50p a can) on the train to avoid paying £4+ a pint at The Amex...!!!!