aibu to wonder why someone who worked as PR for ITV can now run the country?

I feel you are just spinning now tokyo.

Really, if you look at Labour party leaders, Neil kinnock was the first of his family to go to university [Cardiff] , John Smith went to Glasgow, Michael Foot turned to Labour after Oxford and after a time living in Liverpool where the poverty he saw turned him to the Labour party. These were men with real experience of the hardships ordinary people face.

"But at least the whole point of Labour historically is to try to make things better for ordinary working people."

Is it? How many of the Labour front bench have actually met someone who didn't go to Oxford? In fact, the Labour party over the past thirty years has been pursuing policies of interest to London intellectuals while taking the votes of the working class for granted.

Labour is the party of rich London Guardian readers (Polly Toynbee thinks other people shouldn't have second homes and should educate their children in the state sector, so long as it doesn't apply to her). The Tories are the part of rich London Telegraph readers. If you are a working class family in the north of England, both parties despise you. It's just that Brown couldn't conceal his contempt as well.

My point is that two people [DC and SC] who have always been in positions of extreme advantage and power, are unlikely to understand how ordinary people struggle and how the current climate is going to create real hardship for people. They will understand it in a theoretical, abstract way, that is all.

Of course nepotism goes on with certain Labour politicians too. But at least the whole point of Labour historically is to try to make things better for ordinary working people. Blair only managed to overcome Thatcher by mimicking the right in some ways, but in others he really tried to change things for the better, and he did [NHS, education, employment]

Yes, it does mean that

But so much of value is being lost by a few otherwise excellent posters screaming aginst what they don't like; deabtee works best when we can forget whatever agenda, dislike or likes we have and talk about the issues in themselves, I have extremely srong ideologoical likes and dislikes but I can recognise some good amongst the shite in the review.

Otherwise what's the point? We can all C&P 'I hate Gordon / Nick ?Gideon / politicians / poor people / bankers' in an email and randomly distribute can we not?

"No I genuinely think that all politicians go into politics to improve the country for everyone"

Um Alan Clark, Jonathan Aitken, Jeffrey Archer?

Sure there are some famous dodgy MP's from other parties too.

I wish I felt the same way. I think some politicians go into it to serve the public and some are self serving.

I think DC and his cabinet lack compassion, however, and that I cannot forgive (as if they'd care).

No I genuinely think that all politicians go into politics to improve the country for everyone and I really don't accept it when people claim politicians are all self serving

saltdog I think you missed a bit off the end of your post. I'm sure he wants to "improve the country for people like him."

I think Cameron is more than equipped to be Prime Minister. He is Oxbridge educated and clearly has a desire to be in public service. You may not agree with him but you can't deny that he wants to improve the country

It also means it's hardly a characteristic of Tories when Labour do it just as much.

you see tokyo, a whole list of people only emans that more people are a bit- cogy- not bthat it is OK for any of them.

"You cannot possibly say those rumours came from GB himself, or that he approved of them."

What else was McBride paid for? His boyish good looks? Brown had several warnings over McBride, but continued to employ him. If you own a pitbull, it's your responsibility to stop it biting passers by, something Brown was unwilling to do. Had Brown and Balls worried about the economy more and briefing against Blair less (ie, done their jobs, rather than trying to undo their boss) the world would be a significantly better place.

"Yes quite, and Samantha Cameron was hired by her mother into Smythson's, of which she is now creative director. Ah, nepotism. The cornerstone of the Tories' way of life."

I know. It's terrible. I'll just go and ask Hilary Benn about how terrible it is when people get preference because of their parents' influence, or whether it was his grandfather that helped. And then I'll nip over and ask Gwyneth Dunwoody what tips her father was able to give her, what with him being the General Secretary of the Labour Party and all, and how many of those she gave to her daughter Tamsin when she was standing for the Welsh Assembly. I wonder how she got selected? Isn't is extraordinary that Peter Mandelson was able to get to the position of influence he held, with the only advantage being a grandfather who was Home Secretary.

Oh, and then I'll see how many 22 year olds called Georgina, straight out of Oxford, get shortlisted for safe Labour seats when their fathers aren't close advisors to Tony Blair.

If he hadn't been to Eton would he still have a degree from Oxford? Oxbridge is virtually a finishing school for Etonians.

I'm intelligent, I've got a degree! Can I be PM, please?

I'm not a Tory voter but Cameron has a degree from Oxford and comes across as a very intelligent man so I think he is perfectly capable of being PM.

'so presumably knows a bit about the NHS and disabilities

perhaps he can give me some tips on how to face homelessness with two disabled kids then?

Coz he has all that wide ranging experience then.

"Maybe MPs should be obliged to do voluntary work with people on the margins of society for a year"

Like Prince William!

Maybe we should get the royals back in! Also, Prince Charles seems to have done some kind of deal with Waitrose, and who doesn't love John Lewis?

I have no idea what David Cameron's home life is like.

However, most people aren't dealt cards in life that would enable them to care for a severely disabled child and maintain two 'high-flying' careers.

I am not criticising their life style at all, just pointing out that they have had opportunities that wouldn't be available to the majority of people.

The Camerons aren't good examples of the financial impact of disability on a family.

Cameron read PPE at Oxford, so presumably is bright and knows a thing or two about politics and economics. He also had a severely disabled son, so presumably knows a bit about the NHS and disabilities. He also worked in PR for ITV, so knows about the real business world more than many career politicians who only know life at Westminster. He also has a high-flying career wife, so knows about feminism, two-career couples and childcare issues.

He also is trying to sort out this country's disastrous finances, even if it means people dislike him for it, rather than just giving money out willy-nilly to all and sundry, with little accountability, as the last Government did. How on earth TB/GB could spend 13 years over-spending in a boom baffles me. It's basic economics - save in the good times, so you have reserves for the bad times.

(BTW, I am not a member of the Tory party, and haven't always voted for them - however, I do feel DC and NC are the best men for the current job. I also feel, while the cuts are very painful to many of us, unfortunately they are needed due to the financial ineptitude of the last Govt.)

What I felt was better about him was the fact he grew up on a council estate and didn't come from a wealthy background like DC. He seemed to be a man of integrity on what I'd seen and read as well, a man of principals but knew what it was like for those of us not as well off. It seems I was mistaken though and the picture I'd been given from watching and reading was incorrect

The Tory's cannot make the Bank of England change interest rates, it's not their decision surely but Merv and his cronies?

why would interest rates rise, if the Government is seeking to stimulate the economy through monetary policy it is likely to keep interest rates low and do some more quantitative easing

"The country needs a decisive plan, we've set out the decisive plan... It has some caution built into it, there is of course the freedom for the Bank to deploy monetary policy tools as well," Osborne told BBC Radio 4.

so interest rates are set to rise then. Cue loads of people losing their homes. Such a great future.

Well you know he might be a nice bloke

Michael gove is by alla ccounts too.

But either he can't manage to get his country provision sorted or he dosn;t want to (our AM spends a lot of time on helping Sn famillies etc with their LA cases).

OTOH our MP is labour and he's a waste of space too.

Oh I only knew him whilst in the shadow cabinet from what I saw in the media and read about him but that's scrapped that idea then Gideons mum

David davis is the MP for very close to me.

He has a very poor lcoal rep and provision for the vulnerable in his ward is notorious. I know a lot of people with disabled kids ther who have had to pay £££££ to challenge clearly crap decisions byu the LA- such as refusing to drop a disabled child at a CM's house instead of his home when both aprents working etc.

Er- no ta.