tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post5095644484704353219..comments2024-03-27T09:14:27.496+00:00Comments on All That Is Solid ...: Labour's Poll SetbackPhilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-26314014160317548922014-05-18T10:32:43.051+01:002014-05-18T10:32:43.051+01:00Hopi's piece for me sums up my hobby horse dis...Hopi's piece for me sums up my hobby horse disagreement with him, which I wouldn't bore you with, except that I think there's an interesting sociological question that comes out of it.<br /><br />Shorter Hopi: we need to be more "prudent" and then we can get people to trust us with the economy.<br /><br />Shorter me: 1997 was a special case of the most exhausted Tory party in decades, this government just isn't discredited that way, so attempts to be "more prudent/competent" than George Osbourne while staying trapped in his definition of what prudence is, just isn't going to work.<br /><br />I can fill in the disagreement more if you want, but to get on to the interesting bit, sociology wise - what makes for a reputation for competence? It is not purely contingent (although there's some of that, if the economy is on the up, the Tories will get the credit) - still, the frame about what "looking competent" is worth investigating.<br /><br />There's a suspicion in my mind that the frame of "economic competence" favours the right and it's not winning territory in the short term… we could think about how bankers and financial analysts from the City get prominent commentary on economics, we could think about the way "cuts" and "harsh measures" play as "competent." We could think about how Osborne bumbled into a recovery and will get lots of credit from the press. As an aside we could think about Ian Duncan Smith, or the botched NHS reforms and wonder why competence isn't in question...<br /><br />To my mind there are 2 angles that long-term could bear fruit (although they are unlikely to save Ed M. in this election):<br /><br />1) We need to chip away at the idea of the USA as a template. We're a small island country, so much of what comes from there just isn't going to work here, economically.<br /><br />2) We need to ask why the competitors who are "giving us a good kicking" in world markets, such as Germany, S. Korea, China, Singapore all do so much "industrial policy" and "infrastructure investment" - yet "competent people", "grown-ups" in UK politics can't talk about these issues and policies as the lynch pins of growth...Metatonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-35841681969150454702014-05-14T23:15:23.207+01:002014-05-14T23:15:23.207+01:00I think an English parliament makes sense. Ideally...I think an English parliament makes sense. Ideally get it out of London. England's too dominated by London and the South East. An English Parliament based in Coventry or Warwick might help rebalance the country as would transferring some of the civil service out of London.<br /><br />London is British rather than English although geographically in England. It's a multinational world city like New York with a completely different feel to it from the rest of the country. Arguably there are four nations in Britain; England, Scotland, Wales and London. Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18097624792336619525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-26001799504480454092014-05-14T20:21:03.555+01:002014-05-14T20:21:03.555+01:00It's not enough to come here and say "Lab...It's not enough to come here and say "Labour anti-English, wibble!" You have to provide some evidence.<br /><br />For example, regional assemblies make sort of sense because of *numbers*. Many English regions are larger than Wales and Northern Ireland. Some have more people than Scotland. <br /><br />Perhaps we should take a leaf out of Germany's book. Their federal system there hasn't led to Balkanisation.<br /><br />As for your beloved England. I don't think you can show more contempt for the country than voting for a bunch of backward, hate-filled Thatcherites. Think twice before you shit in the bed, because the generations after you are going to have to lie in it.<br /><br />Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06298147857234479278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-45402807515249319402014-05-14T20:05:01.557+01:002014-05-14T20:05:01.557+01:00What on earth makes you think Labour can grab UKIP...What on earth makes you think Labour can grab UKIP's ground?<br /><br />I am an ex lifelong Labour English voter.<br /><br />Why would I vote for a Party that discriminates against the English?<br /><br />It is alright in their book for the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish to have Parliaments and Assemblies but when it comes to England they would rather Balkanize it.<br /><br />I wouldn't trust Labour to boil a kettle never mind put them in charge of my beloved England again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-36755499868439019282014-05-14T17:42:58.651+01:002014-05-14T17:42:58.651+01:00"So what on Earth is going on"
Most peo..."So what on Earth is going on"<br /><br />Most people are cretins?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4486641877026778105.post-11200214133956816812014-05-13T23:08:29.078+01:002014-05-13T23:08:29.078+01:00If Labour loses in 2015 expect the Blairites to bl...If Labour loses in 2015 expect the Blairites to blame it all on Ed and tell us how Lab would have won if the unions hadn't imposed Ed on the party. <br />Roberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18097624792336619525noreply@blogger.com