Page 15 | Who was PM during the best of times for you?

verdantverdure · 2023-03-29T21:44:26+00:00

Me? Blair. Brown, first bit of Cameron. On paper I earn more money now but everything's tits up isn't it? From the economy to shit on beaches to being able to get access to the NHS when needed.

SpecialControlGroup · 30/03/2023 23:13

Tony Blair. But it had fuck all to do with the Government of the time and more to do with my stage of life - amazing time at uni, young free and single etc

Notonthestairs · 30/03/2023 23:12

"How many millions did she take us for? 29?"

Government are suing MedPro for £130 million I think. Mone & husband received £65 and then split it between themselves and children.

Blossomtoes · 30/03/2023 23:04

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 23:03

That's not what happened.

Show quote history

Of course it’s not what happened. A global banking crisis was what burst the bubble.

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 23:04

Notonthestairs · 30/03/2023 22:56

Michelle Mone still holds the Tory whip.

How many millions did she take us for? 29?

OP posts:

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 23:03

CandleInTheStorm · 30/03/2023 23:03

Well yes, it's great to have the Disney dad as people have stated, I mean who doesn't enjoy that? But the shit only hits the fan when "mean mum" with the realistic situation comes along to burst everyone's bubble. That's not a great day for anyone but a necessary one unfortunately.

That's not what happened.

OP posts:

CandleInTheStorm · 30/03/2023 23:03

Well yes, it's great to have the Disney dad as people have stated, I mean who doesn't enjoy that? But the shit only hits the fan when "mean mum" with the realistic situation comes along to burst everyone's bubble. That's not a great day for anyone but a necessary one unfortunately.

Notonthestairs · 30/03/2023 22:56

Michelle Mone still holds the Tory whip.

Blossomtoes · 30/03/2023 22:53

Lastnamedidntstick · 30/03/2023 22:45

Wasn’t it a labour no jailed for the expenses scandal?

Show quote history

Jared O’Mara was jailed for sexual harassment. He was also kicked out of the party, unlike Tory Chris Pincher who’s still an MP retaining the whip. MPs and peers from all parties were found to be fiddling their expenses in 2009.

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 22:52

This thread is overwhelmingly Blair isn't it?

I feel like somebody should tell him.

Everybody likes to feel appreciated, don't they?

OP posts:

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 22:49

joan12 · 30/03/2023 22:29

Blair/Brown. To a much greater degree than any government since they spent the country's money on the country rather than on their vastly wealthy friends. They were very far from perfect and did not entirely live up to this, but they were far better than those who followed.

Exactly this.

OP posts:

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 22:47

beguilingeyes · 30/03/2023 22:28

Surely all Prime Ministers should aspire to be 'Disney Dads'? Governments are supposed to make life better for their citizens, not decimate our standard of living and decrease the country's life expectancy.

I think being good at the brass tacks of governing so that people's lives improve is the opposite of a Disney Dad,

But Blair and Brown were Disney Dad's I'd take that over what we've got now.

They governed for the people not to enrich themselves and their mates.

And boy did we feel the difference.

OP posts:

Lastnamedidntstick · 30/03/2023 22:45

joan12 · 30/03/2023 22:29

I think it is baked in to a Tory methodology to siphon off public funds as much as possible to wealthy donors and cronies.

Wasn’t it a labour no jailed for the expenses scandal?

Jellykat · 30/03/2023 22:41

Blair for me, at least in the early years, there was some hope!

Original poster

verdantverdure · 30/03/2023 22:39

joan12 · 30/03/2023 22:29

I think it is baked in to a Tory methodology to siphon off public funds as much as possible to wealthy donors and cronies.

Maybe it's just never been these brazen or this catastrophic for our country?

OP posts:

Lastnamedidntstick · 30/03/2023 22:35

With DS2, I had to fight for the obstetric care I needed. The hospital was not clean. There was little HV provision and our Sure Start programme had been decimated

I had both mine in the Blair years. Hospitals disgusting, staff horrifically overworked. No post natal care, no sure start. The only decent HV left for australia because they were so pissed off with the NHS.

only available childcare was private. Childcare vouchers sounded good until you realised you were fucked if you wanted another child or were unlucky enough to need sick leave.

even tax credits that I qualified for were stopped and taken back because the nhs couldn’t get it’s payroll in gear.

I don’t have great memories of that time at all. Yes “Cool Britannia” was all well and good but it didn’t translate for me into great services. Financially with two young children it was tough and I got no help at all.

AuntieObnoxious · 30/03/2023 22:32

Blair for me too. I didnt really think about it until this post. Those were great times financially for me

NCGrandParent · 30/03/2023 22:31

Blair

joan12 · 30/03/2023 22:29

I think it is baked in to a Tory methodology to siphon off public funds as much as possible to wealthy donors and cronies.

joan12 · 30/03/2023 22:29

Blair/Brown. To a much greater degree than any government since they spent the country's money on the country rather than on their vastly wealthy friends. They were very far from perfect and did not entirely live up to this, but they were far better than those who followed.

beguilingeyes · 30/03/2023 22:28

Surely all Prime Ministers should aspire to be 'Disney Dads'? Governments are supposed to make life better for their citizens, not decimate our standard of living and decrease the country's life expectancy.

mamaduckbone · 30/03/2023 22:24

ClareBlue · 29/03/2023 22:58

All those saying Blair were presumably not sent to kill and bomb innocent people in an illegal war. But, hey, everything good and fun at home so who cares.

This isn't relevant to the question the op asked.

beguilingeyes · 30/03/2023 22:24

It wasn't Blair and Brown who ruined the finances. It started in the US with sub-prime mortgages.
It was global.

Blossomtoes · 30/03/2023 22:23

Lastnamedidntstick · 30/03/2023 20:58

Yes, for all the wrong reasons. Funded more managers, it systems that didn’t work, it wasn’t sustainable so they started closing wards.

Then began the PFI contracts and the slow descent into privatisation.

”Disney dad” is spot on.

Show quote history

Here’s the evidence that you’re talking nonsense. Bet you won’t read it.

https://www.kingsfund.org.uk/sites/default/files/summary-high-performing-nhs-progress-review-1997-2010-ruth-thorlby-jo-maybin-kings-fund-april-2010_0.pdf

mamaduckbone · 30/03/2023 22:22

Tony Blair. It was a good time to be a teacher - education, education, education.
There was also funding for the arts and it just felt like a time of optimism and promise.
Everything is so bleak now, my heart breaks for my teenagers growing into adulthood under this government.

TooBigForMyBoots · 30/03/2023 22:13

I had DS1 in the Brown years and DS2 during Theresa May's tenure and the difference was stark. Excellent maternity care, HVs, Sure Start, easy GP and dentist appointments. DS1 was diagnosed with autism in P3.

With DS2, I had to fight for the obstetric care I needed. The hospital was not clean. There was little HV provision and our Sure Start programme had been decimated. Even now I can't find a dentist to take us as mine retired and the practice dumped all its NHS patients during Covid.

I read on another thread that the assessment threshold for autism has been raised and it breaks my heart. DS1 is doing brilliantly and needs very little intervention now, but this is a direct result of the early diagnosis and support. Without it, I dread to think where he'd be now.

Labour weren't perfect but they took a long term view wrt children and health (PFI excluded).

And they delivered the GFA. A real change for NI and the whole of the UK.