Depressed lefties sign in here...

Molesworth if you're about today will you post your link about child poverty on Xenia's best party propaganda thread please?

GetOrfMoiLand I'll have a cuppa. It is very noble of you offering your time.

Oh GOD this will be a long post - sorry everyone but I am surrounded by tories at work so can't rant talk to them.

• I am wearing a red top today and people at work are taking the piss - sample comment 'here comes Red Ken'. I have decided therefore to do no work today (I am leaving here in 3 weeks anyway so haven't actually got much to do, have been taken off anything important).

• Simon Cowell on the front page of the Sun yesterday. I just felt like screaming when I saw that. So multimillionaire record label boss thinks the tories are a good bet NO SHIT SHERLOCK

• I drove past Cheltenham College last night and saw all the privileged young lovelies sunning themselves on the criket pitch. Then about 3 miles away drove through Hester's Way (Cheltenham's worst estate) and saw kids of the same age just hanging round drinking cider and looking off their tits on mephadrone. Just seeing such disparity in wealth and prospects cheek by jowl made me sad. If DC gets in those poor kids are even more fucked than they are now, whilst the rich kids will be protected.

• My whole adult life (near enough) has been under labour. I was probably complacent and didn't get involved politics. Whatever happens, I am joining the labour party today. If DC gets in (like posters have said on this thread) I am going to bloody well contribute some of my time to try and do something.

• I cannot imagine this ever changing, but I hate the fact that due to the political preferences of Rupert Murdoch and Lord Rothermere, this whole campaign has been so ferociously partisan.

Rant over. I am going to go and have a cup of tea.

I really liked the reader's letter about child poverty. Thanks for linking it in RosaMolesworthemburg.

Chin up everybody, it's not over yet. Maybe DavedotherightthingCameron will make a racist or homophobic comment that the papers will bother to report will lose him the election.

I know it is just wallowing but can't help thinking result of Tory win = unbearable smugness, Labour win = rousing speech the like of which brings tears to your eyes.

Interesting link Molesworth.

yesterday my mentee at work said that he cast his postal vote just as he was sure I would...for the Tories...he said it almost as though he was acting on my advice. Hell!

Well....iT's THe beginning of THe end....

(you will HaVe To exuse me, seVeral leTTers on my keyboard will only work as CapiTals, I'm noT sure wHy, maybe iT's an eleCTion day proTesT?!)

AT leasT THe anTiCipaTion will be oVer. I'Ve been worrying oVer THE Tories geTTing in (and assuming iT is a done deal) for THE lasT 8 monTHs or so. EiTHer way, no more being in THe dark. MeTaporiCally, anyway - onCe THe CHinless wonders HaVe been in power a wHile, you neVer know.

Good post PrincessF

May I also post a link to a letter in today's Guardian from academics at the LSE's Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion

There are far fewer children in poverty

David Cameron has argued that "the evidence as well as our instincts" shows that "Britain is broken" and that our social problems are getting worse. He has also claimed that "the Conservatives, not Labour, are best placed to fight poverty". But voters should be clear that the evidence he cites on poverty, worklessness and social mobility is deeply misleading (Tories discover poverty, 5 May).

Comparing Britain now to Britain in 1997, there are fewer children living in relative poverty (and far fewer ? less than half the number ? in absolute poverty). Figures relating to the "very poorest", the bottom 3% of the income distribution, are statistically problematic, with the Institute for Fiscal Studies cautioning against their use. The percentage of children living in workless households is also lower than in 1997, despite the current recession. Widely cited negative trends in social mobility refer to the difference between those born in 1958 and those born in 1970, who grew up under Margaret Thatcher. The latest figures, relating to children born in 2000-01, suggests that this upward trend has now been stemmed.

Labour inherited extremely high levels of poverty, inequality and social exclusion. Their ambitious strategy to tackle these problems has had an impact; that the impact was not greater does not indicate a failed strategy, but that more of the same was needed. Conservative plans to cut back on successful government programmes such as child tax credits and Sure Start (while simultaneously lowering inheritance tax for the wealthy) will damage precisely those whom Cameron purports to help.

Dr Kitty Stewart, Dr Ruth Lupton

Professor Anne Power

Centre for Analysis of Social Exclusion, LSE

Am coming very late to this thread, but feel I have to comment on this:

"By mumwithbumandtum Wed 05-May-10 12:05:32
... I think you'll agree that £58 / week state pension is a joke..."

Yes, that would be a joke if it were the whole truth. In fact, "In 2010-2011, the full basic State Pension is £97.65 a week. The full basic State Pension for a married woman using her husband?s National Insurance record is £58.50 a week." [Perhaps that latter figure is what mumwithbumandtum is thinking of?]

BUT, if you are a pensioner trying to survive on state pension alone (i.e. you have no private pension or other income), you are entitled to receive Pension Credit: "If you're a pensioner living in Great Britain, Pension Credit could top up your weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of:

?£132.60 if you are single
?£202.40 if you have a partner"

Source

In addition, everyone aged 60 or more currently qualifies for £250 Winter Fuel Allowance, rising to £400 for those aged 80 or more. (Note that under the Tories you could claim only £10 a week - retrospectively - and then only if the average temperature in your area fell below a certain level.)

And if you are 75, you don't have to pay for your TV licence (currently saving you £145.50 a year).

Finally, if you are 60 years old you are entitled to a free bus pass (though I know that the age threshold for this is going to rise, in stages over the next few years, to 65).

In other words, I think the current government has gone further to help pensioners than any previous government. Haven't other people on this thread seen their parents, or other older friends, benefit from these regulations?

this raised a smile (albeit a weak one)

yy, can I add to what Rosa says MonkeysMama - brilliant and very important work, good luck.

God yes.

Monkeysmama, huge pat on the back for taking to the streets of Barking tomorrow: good luck with that.

And as depressed as I am, I am soberly reminded there is a bigger force to be fought off tomorrow : BNP attack

I would like to think not but I suspect some people are. Especially those who purchase The Sun.

Right, I am actually going to be now, the later I stay up the worse things are getting!

I hope the polls are wrong clemette, I really do.

Is anyone actually swayed by these poxy headlines in the papers?

Still clinging on to the fact that the polls are way out. The majority of people I know STILL haven't decided who they are voting for so how can the polls predict...?

You can't beat tomorrow's headline in the Sun for sheer breathtaking cheeky.

I just don't get it. Loads of people I know are voting labour (and I am sure they are genuine). Is this because I know lots of working parents and no hedge fund managers

How wrong have polls been in the past

And I don't believe the Yougov ones as they pay people for the on-line stuff and XP just used to press any old button to get the 50p credit to his account.