to think that Nick Clegg was the wrong person to present the Pride of Britain Award to shot policeman

[sincitylover]

I was watching this last night - that very brave policeman who was shot and blinded was presented his award by Nick Clegg of all people.

I thought it was completely inappropriate given the current governments attitude to public services. Shame on him!

Also the policeman, David Rathband has started a charity called Blue Lamp I think to help any emergency services who are injured in the line of duty.

He did make the point that he was left with no money when he was injured.

www.bluelamp-foundation.org/

waves to reality

YABU he's the Deputy Prime Minister

yes I am aware of that Huddspur - of a govt who plans to cut the public service.

I feel the same way about politicians turning out at remembrance sunday- don't get me wrong I fully support and respect the troops but to see politicians who engage in sometimes pointless wars and who don't properly support the forces personnel once they leave the services turning up at a cermoney like that sticks in my craw a bit.

See Laurie Penny in the New Statesman for a cracking article on this.

Why does the Government plans to cut public spending make him the wrong person to present an award that recognises bravery?

errm because it's extremely hypocritical imo just as it would be if he went to a university to hand out an award to a brilliant student.

Just to prove I am not being party political it would be the same as Tony Blair giving bravery awards to servicemen whilst simulataneously shafting them en masse.

There must be more suitable people in these instances.

it's like they take the limelight and 'glory' but don't really support the bravery with support.

That's all

Who do you think would have been reasonable choice then?

perhaps a senior police officer, chief executive of a charity, someone local.

Anyway I am pleased that he made the point about not being able to access emergency money

He probably feels absolutely no guilt at all over what he is being forced to do to save the country.

Given the anti-coalition anti-cuts howling we often get on MN its easy to think the whole population are against the cuts. Most arent.

Is it not a good thing that the second most senior politician in the country attended and presented the awards. It shows that the event is held in high esteem

You think that Nick Clegg is going to 'save the country'. He and the LibDebs are being used quite simply to bolster the numbers needed by the Tories to gain power.

Nothing more nothing less. I'd be amazed if anyone voted Libdem ever again. They have whored themselves beyond the point of redemption.

the govt aren't being forced to do this to save the country - the cuts are being used as an excuse to promote a specific Tory ideology.

Yes agree about lib dem vote - my local mp is/was a very good libdem constituency mp but since the coalition was formed am less than happy with him.

If the numbers voting for each party reflect opinion then I would conclude that most people would be against the cuts as they are currently being presented rather than for.

I would guess for example that only diehard Tory voters (who were in the minority) would favour the cuts as they are.

Cuts are necessary to reduce the deficit, hence why all 3 main partys proposed them at the last election. The problem is all 3 parties pretended that they wouldn't have to be severe during the election campaign and so some people are know surprised by the level of cuts that have to be made.

A thinktank (what a job, being on a thinktank! Wonder what the canteen's like?) recently came up with the brilliant idea of putting VAT on everything that doesn't currently have it, and at the same time CUTTING corporation tax..

This is a thinktank that are directly advising govt policy.

They mean to increase the proportion of their income the poor (ie me)pay for, well, everything, and decrease the tax from wealthy companies(whose money could actually be helping to reduce the deficit and pay for frontline police etc)

Thanks Nick Clegg.

northernrock- its only a thinktank, they come up with all sorts of weird and not so wonderful ideas.

We need to raise money.
Not against cuts if at the same time big business and banks are prepared to tighten their belts.
It's just that the poor are the only ones who are going to bleed.
And it is totally naive to think otherwise.

Yeah huddspur, like cutting housing benefit.

In the light of that weird and wonderful idea, councils across London have already booked en masse hundreds of B and B rooms across the South Coast.
London is too expensive you see.
So pity the family that can't make their rent and ends up homeless in a B and B, losing their job in the process. (Most people on HB have jobs btw)

I mean not so wonderful. Ah fuckit. I'm moving to Spain.

I think the HB cut is a good decision as the HB bill is out of control and unsustainable.

Does it not show well the awards are regarded if Nick Clegg goes to hand out awards.

Re the HB cuts: All of the govts bills are massive. If you actually looked at the numbers, at how much everthing actually costs you would jusy go "shit! how is this sustainable?" But the thing is, the country also has a massive amount coming in (yes, even now)
It is totally about ideology, not about what they(we) can and can't pay for.
Vodaphone just had a massive tax bill written off by the govnt.
It's all about priorities.

Also, if wages were livable on, and if the price of housing itself hadn't become so insane, there would be no need for HB.

The current plan just punishes the poor for something they can do nothing about.

"The current plan just punishes the poor for something they can do nothing about."

They can move to somewhere that isnt so expensive. How else are they going to do their part in bringing down the deficit? 20k is more than enough.

Dont kid yourself that Labour would have done it any differently if they were in power. They already had HB reform in their plans before they were voted out.

Note - half the reason rents are so high is becasue HB claimants underpin the market. This forces everyone else to pay more or leave - which is a disgrace when you think it is their tax money being used to outbid them.

Ahhh! A bit of social engineering I see.

Yes, thats it, let the house prices get to such a level that ordinary people can't live in them and then...what?

Put them in camps?
It's the next logical step CCPCCP,

By the way

House prices are really high because interest rates were kept artificially low for years, encouraging massive borrowing and fuelling an unsustainable property boom.
That in itself has raised rents, because all of this buy-to -let landlords have to cover their giant mortgage payments.
In addition, as I said, most people who claim HB are WORKING, so to move could mean being unreasonably far from work, having to move their kids schools etc.

Poor people have ALWAYS lived cheek by jowl with Rich people in this country. How ever much you may wish to live in a gated community, I for one do not.