Labour "hugely proud of the progress"

macaque_2

What a hoot!

Our party has been in power now for eleven years - something Labour has never come close to achieving before.

And though it’s been tough at times and there are still big challenges to overcome, we can be hugely proud of the progress we have delivered together for the country.

It is easy to forget what Britain was like in 1997 - the NHS on its knees, schools crumbling, crime doubled and millions of families still scarred by unemployment over three million and interest rates still recovering from hitting 15 per cent on Black Wednesday.

And while we know that everything is not perfect now, Britain is, without doubt, a better, more prosperous and fairer place.

http://www.labour.org.uk/labour_in_government

ad9898_3

Our party has been in power now for eleven years - something Labour has never come close to achieving before.

..............And never will again.

lostinrates

I was at college when Labour won the General election and although I had not voted for them the enthusiam and the hope was present, and the atmosphere was positive, which did enthuse me. The number of people who told me how thrilled there dad's were, or that their parents said this was really positive for their future really interested me. Students rarely quote their parents on important decisions, and yet in politics they were very open, in the main, about taking a lead from them. Nothing wrong with that exactly, just interesting. But the mood was that of something new and exciting and well.....has it been?

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

ad9898 wrote: »

..............And never will again.

Oh yes they will be.
After several miserable years of the the next government trying to get the country back on track,usually 10 years does it.Along will come a lot of new voters who realy can't remember what happens with a labour government and they'll all be won over with empty promises.
It happened last time.It'll happen again.
My old dad said it all when they got in this time,when he said "give them a few years and those young one's who voted them in will get a rude awakening when they find out what labour does best".
I think they already have.

lynzpower

lostinrates wrote: »

I was at collegewhen Labour won the General election and although I had not voted for them the enthusiam and the hope was presnt. The number of people who told me how thrilled there dad's were, or that their parents said this was really positive for their future really interested me. Students rarely quote their parents on important decisions, an dyet in politics they were very open, in the main, about takingalead from them. Nothing wrong with that exactly, just interesting. But the mood was that of something new and exciting and well.....has it been?

Yes I think broadly it has been.

The unemployment at that time was unbelievable. People had never worked would never work and couldnt afford to go to work. the excuses of not being able to aford to go to work, has been changed. THATS a good thing.

Under the last tory gtov I earned 2.71 an hour, part time. I couldnt afford my rent on that ( so I increased my debt to survive)

The minimum wage has broadly changed that in line with tax credits.

Whats happened is thart out of the "unemployed" all the ones that couldnt work yet wanted to, have bee nstripped away, and we are left with a hardcore of underclass. The truth is that there is a level of dependence from so many on the state- for everything. I dont for exmaple understand why mothers who choose not to breastfeed thier babies- get paid milk token to buy powdered milk with Isnt that simply crazy? Instead of decent one to one feeding support.for those that need it

The underclass is a symptom of poor parenting and low asiration, rather than anything the governmnt of whichever day has been done or not. The job centre plus has not met what it should have done and intervened with thersapeutic work to ensure those with chronically low self esteem and feel they have notthing to look forward to, can work. We might be at the start of it now, but generally the gov has totally ignored this problem for a very long time.

Many labour supporters- lifelong labour supporters, cannot bear the cosying up to Bush and an increased war effort, whilst at the same time ignoring massive HR conflicts in say Darfur. I have high hopes for Obama, he seems a much more principled man that brown is and with a bit of luck he'll carry on trying to copy him :rotfl:

JasonLVC

" It is easy to forget what Britain was like in 1997 - the NHS on its knees, schools crumbling, crime doubled and millions of families still scarred by unemployment over three million and interest rates still recovering from hitting 15 per cent on Black Wednesday ".

And what exactly has 'progressed' over those 10-11 years?.

Schools are still crumbling. Crime has increased year on year (not helped by releasing prisoners early and politicising the CPA). Families still scarred by unemployment (they were just called 'learn direct attendees' or similar)

Black Wednesday - Are Labour still banging on about that day?. People do not appreciate what happened that day and why it happened. The outcome, as we all know was a mistake - but it was the only option on the table.

I'd rather have one black Wednesday than what we have now which is month after month of mini-black Wednesday's - with no-one it seems caring as to what Brown is doing to the economy and the future of the country.

Brown has devalued the pound like no other leader and whilst we may disagree or have different opinions oin the matter now - history will confirm whether his actions are good or bad.

maninthestreet

I'm of the opinion that 'self-praise' equals 'no praise'. This is the Labour party giving itself a pat on the back, but they know they are facing electoral oblivion in the local and european elections in 2 months time and, more importantly, the general election next year.

Graham_Devon

Unemployment over 3 million?

They are using that as one of their speeches?!

PMSL

Unemployment to hit 3.2 million...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7931289.stm

Rochdale_Pioneers

JasonLVC wrote: »

Brown has devalued the pound like no other leader and whilst we may disagree or have different opinions oin the matter now - history will confirm whether his actions are good or bad.

Sterling / US Dollar exchange rate 1/5/97 $1.63
Sterling / US Dollar Exchange Rate today $1.42 - a 13% devaluation during Labour's time in office.

Looking back at other governments:

Tories 79 - 97
Sterling / US Dollar exchange rate 1/5/79 $2.06
Sterling / US Dollar Exchange Rate 1/5/97 $1.63 - a 21% devaluation

Pobby

I am a third generation Labour party member, or was. I resigned back in the mid 80s when I saw certain things that I didn`t like. I, for one, disliked Thatcher years, "there is no such thing as society". I like the point made by Lynz regarding Job Centre Plus. From what I see they provide very little help in getting people into work but they are great on checking out the benefits you might well receive.

I am shocked that Brown believed the idea that we could build sustainable growth based on debt. Or indeed it appears that he thought that rising house was a positive. For tax grabbing and short term employment it probally was but look where that ponzi scheme has taken us. This was the man that said he wouldn`t let the housing market get out of control.

Jennifer_Jane

The one thing that Labour can take credit for is the Northern Ireland Peace Process.

Sadly, it looks as if that is failing, but Tony Blair did seem to do well with that.

Jen
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