tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post2917181837570708648..comments2023-10-02T14:33:18.136+01:00Comments on The Very Fluffy Diary of Millennium Dome, Elephant: Day 5281: Tim Farron or Norman Lamb? We Need BOTH!Millennium Domehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08430269096817934037noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-41823520312579729202015-06-23T10:18:39.466+01:002015-06-23T10:18:39.466+01:00@Huw Jones:
A dispassionate view of the evidence ...@Huw Jones:<br /><br />A dispassionate view of the evidence would show that we DID stand by our policies.<br /><br />We delivered more than 75% of our 2010 manifesto – a pupil premium, an increase in personal allowance, a green investment bank. We reformed pensions, made the Chancellor increase benefits (in 2010, 2011 and 2012) and the minimum wage, and raised taxes on the better off by increasing Capital Gains Tax, closing tax loopholes and freezing the 40% tax threshold. We created equal marriage, and ended detention of children for asylum seekers. We blocked the Snoopers Charter and ended I D cards. In a time of deep recession we – uniquely in the Western economies and for the first time in 30 years – saw the globally-recognised measure of inequality improve in the UK leaving the country less unequal than it had been under Gordon Brown.<br /><br />Which of our policies did we not stand by that led to "a million of our fellow citizens having to use food banks"? As opposed to that massive global economic meltdown that happened on Labour's watch? <br />Why are you buying the narrative of that same Labour Party? <br />E.g. that "one million" figure: see Full Fact https://fullfact.org/factcheck/economy/food_bank_number-40853<br /><br />How do we win back the votes of the HALF a million people using food banks? By telling them the TRUTH: the economy was destroyed under the Labour Party; the nation's services were destroyed under the Tories; when the Liberal Democrats were in government things got better.<br />Millennium Domehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430269096817934037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-36102752292100883102015-06-23T00:26:41.280+01:002015-06-23T00:26:41.280+01:00There is not much point in "generating radica...There is not much point in "generating radical policies" if you are not prepared to stand by them. The problem with the way we behaved in coalition was that we did not stand by our policies, and ended up with the disgrace of a million of our fellow citizens having to use food banks. Apart from our shame, what makes us think that any of those million will ever vote Liberal in future?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15108248313443633135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-60140390938989193982015-06-19T22:21:12.395+01:002015-06-19T22:21:12.395+01:00That is fine. I knew it wasn't a direct quote,...That is fine. I knew it wasn't a direct quote, but wasn't sure if it was part of the general conversation. <br /><br />I don't agree, but it is a fair position. <br /><br />RegardsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590033495273023299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-84812283855731215522015-06-19T11:51:03.221+01:002015-06-19T11:51:03.221+01:00@Eddie:
Who said " the Home Office was "...@Eddie:<br /><br />Who said " the Home Office was "our natural enemies?" "<br /><br />Um, me<br /><br />It's not a quote (and it's not *in* quotes).<br /><br />AS with most things I say, it is supposed to be amusing/satirical rather than extremely literal, but I would defend the idea that is is the job of the Home Office is to increase security and they mostly do this by reducing liberty, while the job of the Liberal Democrats is to defend liberty which naturally puts us each into opposition.<br /><br />(That's my most generous description of the two positions. I'd go further and suggest that very often the Home Office does things that reduce liberty and do NOT increase security:- counter-productive measures like stop-and-search or "go home poster vans" which generate resentment and breed threats to security; and ludicrous security theatre - like ID cards or the snoopers charter - which is in the business of *looking* like it's doing something but actually wastes resources, money, time, manpower, on activity that achieves nothing.)Millennium Domehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08430269096817934037noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-44977747139348625972015-06-18T20:03:17.161+01:002015-06-18T20:03:17.161+01:00Who said the Home Office was "our natural ene...Who said the Home Office was "our natural enemies?" Did Norman actually say this? <br /><br />ThanksAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04590033495273023299noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22974616.post-65689387315583678412015-06-18T18:46:23.854+01:002015-06-18T18:46:23.854+01:00A good evening, but I thought Sal Brinton allowed ...A good evening, but I thought Sal Brinton allowed it to go on too long. It started at 7 and by 8.30 quite a lot of people had left.David Blakehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376380059683595155noreply@blogger.com