Alan Johnson out, Ed Balls in

Von Smallhausen · 21 Jan 2011 at 15:43

So many people have short memories it seems.

Is that popularity based on Coalition failings or that people do not like to see cuts and assume that taxpayers money grows on trees ?

clv101 · 21 Jan 2011 at 15:56

Von Smallhausen said:
So many people have short memories it seems.

Is that popularity based on Coalition failings or that people do not like to see cuts and assume that taxpayers money grows on trees ?

Of course people on mass have short memories, make short term decisions, and are gullible to what the politicians and media feed them. However, that does change the facts, that right now Labour are popular, and if the coalition gamble of fast cuts and fast recovery doesn't pay off before the next election, Labour will likely gain power again.

Von Smallhausen · 21 Jan 2011 at 15:59

And Labour in again might just bankrupt the UK.

Will their fiscal policies change under Ed and Ed or will tax, spend and borrow continue ?

Dolph · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:00

clv101 said:
Of course people on mass have short memories, make short term decisions, and are gullible to what the politicians and media feed them. However, that does change the facts, that right now Labour are popular, and if the coalition gamble of fast cuts and fast recovery doesn't pay off before the next election, Labour will likely gain power again.

If the coalition are wrong on the economy, then they deserve to lose power. Whether it should be to the people that caused the public spending crisis in the first place is why some will be questioning the idiocy of the general public, because if the coalition's plan fails, then Labour's plan for this period would almost certainly have resulted in an IMF bailout.

PermaBanned · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:02

Von Smallhausen said:
And Labour in again might just bankrupt the UK.

Will their fiscal policies change under Ed and Ed or will tax, spend and borrow continue ?

And if the tories carry on as they are doing then they might just bankrupt the UK...

clv101 · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:08

Dolph said:
If the coalition are wrong on the economy, then they deserve to lose power. Whether it should be to the people that caused the public spending crisis in the first place is why some will be questioning the idiocy of the general public, because if the coalition's plan fails, then Labour's plan for this period would almost certainly have resulted in an IMF bailout.

Don't get me wrong, I think the coalition's spending plans are the best I've seen proposed. That said, I don't think they've got better than fifty:fifty chance of being judged 'a success' in four years time. If they aren't Labour will get another go.

Von Smallhausen · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:09

Superewza said:
And if the tories carry on as they are doing then they might just bankrupt the UK...

How so ?

clv101 · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:17

Von Smallhausen said:
How so ?

Well, the mechanism would be along the lines of shrinking public sector workforce increasing unemployment and reduced public spending both reducing demand in the private sector with knock-on private unemployment. Government tax take goes down, as the unemployment benefit bill increases. The Government's forecasts are based on ~2.6% growth over the coming years - with it all coming from private sector. It may well happen, but if it doesn't we'll be in worse place than before (but still probably better than we would have been without such cuts).

It's quite possible that none of the alternatives being discussed by any major party are able to restore growth, the Coalitions plan might just deliver the least worse future economy.

The Halk · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:19

clv101 said:
Don't get me wrong, I think the coalition's spending plans are the best I've seen proposed. That said, I don't think they've got better than fifty:fifty chance of being judged 'a success' in four years time. If they aren't Labour will get another go.

If they avoid economic disaster, then labour can say they cut too much and growth would have been better/job figures/etc.

The coalition can't look good, even if they do the right thing.

Dolph · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:25

clv101 said:
Well, the mechanism would be along the lines of shrinking public sector workforce increasing unemployment and reduced public spending both reducing demand in the private sector with knock-on private unemployment. Government tax take goes down, as the unemployment benefit bill increases. The Government's forecasts are based on ~2.6% growth over the coming years - with it all coming from private sector. It may well happen, but if it doesn't we'll be in worse place than before (but still probably better than we would have been without such cuts).

It's quite possible that none of the alternatives being discussed by any major party are able to restore growth, the Coalitions plan might just deliver the least worse future economy.

Which would, if the electorate is rational, show just how badly Labour screwed us over.

Of course, the electorate isn't rational, even now there are deficit deniers and those who refuse to accept Labour has any responsibility whatsoever for the public spending crisis...

Biohazard · 21 Jan 2011 at 16:43

Dolph said:
Which would, if the electorate is rational, show just how badly Labour screwed us over.

Of course, the electorate isn't rational, even now there are deficit deniers and those who refuse to accept Labour has any responsibility whatsoever for the public spending crisis...

It started a long time before 1997....

Von Smallhausen said:
How so ?

No Westminster party can reverse the UK state decline.

Jokester · 23 Jan 2011 at 17:46

Respect to the police officer, not only was he banging Johnson's wife, he was also at it with his minisitirial aide alledgedly

Von Smallhausen · 23 Jan 2011 at 17:48

It seems he confused his Glock with his ***k.