When was the last time you felt the UK was in good hands?

[honeybeetheoneandonly]

I watched the debate yesterday and while I think one person would probably make better decisions for the general public than the other, I wouldn't entrust the country to either.
Looking across Lib Dem, Brexit party or Green there is nobody, I feel, who would make the country a better place.

This made me think, when was the last time you felt a government in charge made things significantly better and left the country better off than it was before?

All governments end in failure

When Tony Blair got elected

I was an idealistic student...

I think after WW2 both Conservatives and Labour did well. But when a country comes out of war most decisions will probably make it better.

@derxa - I think for the UK you are probably right.

@BrendasUmbrella - i think Tony Blair probably did quite a lot of good. Shame about the ending.

I wonder if Theresa May might have done well had she had anything other than Brexit to do.

The last time I got excited was probably that first debate Nick Clegg did. Naive, certainly, but such fresh ideas and answers compared to the jaded, experienced politicians who were very guarded in their answers.

I'm 29 and I don't think there have been many good government leaders in my lifetime.

The law enforcing the minimum wage was one good thing.

When Labour and Tony Blair got in in 1997. Although he turned out to be a war-monger.

I remember when Tony Blair started as PM, every day there seemed to be someone on the radio excited about being consulted about possibly changing things for the better.
When David Cameron started, every day there seemed to be news about something good being shut down because it wasn't making enough money for the government. Eg the body tasked with reducing the number of teenage mothers, and the organisation that was respected worldwide for its great criminal forensics - but not making much of a profit so it had to go, apparently.

When Blair was elected. I really thought we had turned a corner.

When Tony Blair became PM in 1997.

Before 1979 when I wasn't old enough to understand. The country would be in good hands if it wasn't run by politicians.

I remember Gordon Brown getting a lot of praise, internationally, for how he managed the financial crisis.

When John Major introduced cone line

Different days.....

I liked John Major. I thought he did a great job.
I've never voted conservatove but i found him sensible.

don't want to be unfair to governments. There is probably only so much one can do where people would feel a significant difference. Maybe NHS and housing but those are poisoned chalices as well.

Having said that, having a government that truly makes improvements that can be felt and having a person who you have high hopes for are two different things anyway.

At the moment I feel we have neither; it's been a long time since we did and it's not looking good for the foreseeable future either.

What's happened?

Here's what I remember:
Wilson Heath Callaghan: Strikes Badly made BL cars Winter of discontent Dirty trains Cap in hand to IMF but... people seemed quite happy and less materialistic
Thatcher: Selling off council houses poll tax miners' strike selling off utilities Falklands war house prices rising but.. people became more materialistic but more patriotism
Blair: People's Princess Cherie Blair's mendacious character mood of optimism then disastrous war
Brown; dour mood financial crash
Coalition/Cameron: Paid no attention at all to politics
2016 Referendum an utter shit show from then on to the extent that it's harmful to the nation's mental health.

1997 Tony Blair

derxa

You don't remember Major?

It was horrified in 97 when Tony Blair was elected. I couldn't understand how so many people would vote for him. I wasn't happy to be proved right either.

Not in my lifetime and I'm in my 50s.

I agree Blair in 97. Tax credits were the absolute saviour for me, did exactly as intended, kept me in my job post-maternity leave meaning I'm now a full time worker on decent pay contributing tax rather than having to go on benefits etc.

I actually rate John major too. Especially his part in the northern Ireland peace process.

Gordon Brown did well in the financial crisis.

Cameron wasn't an international embarrassment apart from the pig fucking. Some brutal domestic policies though.

May had an impossible job but actually wasn't too terrible on domestic abuse (for a tory)

I have got nothing good to say about Johnson. If he gets a majority we'll be a third world country in 5 years. He's an absolute disaster.

That Cromwell business turned out well ... after a time.

Little discernable improvement since.

You don't remember Major? He completely slipped my mind.
OK Peas Norma traffic cones and family values ahem Edwina Currie and her fucking eggs

An early Tony Blair. Pity events got in the way, really.

Tony Blair at the beginning was brilliant. There was a lot of optimism and loads of services were improved.

Tony blair was brilliant except for that fucking war