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Original poster

So we have a new Prime Minister then!

77 replies

homemama · 27/06/2007 15:41

I don't really want to say anything in particular as everyone has their own views on GB and the government.

It just felt odd that their wasn't a specific thread on what, by anyone's account, is a momentous day; a new PM. That's all.

OP posts:
speedymama · 27/06/2007 16:11

I agree Homemama. He is really sincere about that. I just hope he can go a long way in achieving it.

Original poster
homemama · 27/06/2007 16:12

I want him to dramatically increase the minimum wage. I'd happily pay more tax to fund it!

OP posts:
AttilaTheMum · 27/06/2007 16:13

Actually, technically we don't vote for the party, we vote for individual MPs - by tradition, since the eighteenth century the Prime Minister has been the person who can gain the support of the house. The party system is just a system that has grown up to enable the Prime Minister to control MPs. In theory, the Queen could appoint whoever she thought could gain the confidence of a majority.

TheMuppet · 27/06/2007 16:13

I'll prob vote labour at next election anyway but just gets me annoyed when some ppl in my family get more on benefits than me and i choose to work. it really should be the opposite was round

policywonk · 27/06/2007 16:14

(whispers: I already said that, Attila)

Original poster
homemama · 27/06/2007 16:15

Yes, and she did so with Douglas-Hume

OP posts:
Desiderata · 27/06/2007 16:16

How's yer motorbike?

AttilaTheMum · 27/06/2007 16:17

Sorry policywonk - so you did - I'm at work, so I composed my post, then got called away (to look for some keys supposedly left in the playground by a mum) & when I got back I just pressed Post without checking for updates first.

policywonk · 27/06/2007 16:31

Attila. Just had to use my Politics A Level knowledge (Grade C) somewhere!

Hello Desi. I am thrashing my throttle in frustration and rage as we speak.

Desiderata · 27/06/2007 16:36

All that leather was your undoing

Peachy · 27/06/2007 16:45

I rather like GB posibly as much as ahundredtimes

However after you all feel nauseous, I also keep my politics separate LOL!

I think we should give him a chance, though. there's a lot of rumours flying round about what he might do and some of them are very positive imo- now I'm not saying he will and I may well loathe his politics after a good while. But as its Day 1, I feel we should give him a chance. He might just be good!

(And I don't vote Labour btw but would consider doing so if GB was Leader more so than TB, though I also feel that TB did his best, even if he did make a few monumental mistakes- and trying your best is always something)

besides we're much better off as a family under the GB Chancellor years than we were before.

TheMuppet · 27/06/2007 16:53

Peachy i hope everyone is right that i won't struggle so much now GB is in power

Peachy · 27/06/2007 16:57

All you can do is wait and see- and judge him on what he does, rather than he he might do.

We're dependant on the Government in many ways- SN schools / education; SN benefits ; Student finance; WTC- so he could ruin our lices completely. If he does I shall certainly kick up- but he could equally improve it couldn't he?

I suppose all i am saying is give him a chance.

eleusis · 27/06/2007 17:02

How in the world can you guys thing that having the tax and waste monger as PM will lead to you struggling less? That is certainly not my expectation, though I'd be quite happy for you to be right and me to be wrong.

Gordon Brown makes me frown.

ahundredtimes · 27/06/2007 17:05

I sort of agree with Peachy, but I'd like to wait and see what he does but also to wait and see just how much more darned attractive power is going to make him before I make up my mind.

Peachy · 27/06/2007 17:21

Thast the thing eleusis, I dont see hima s that- I see the benefits I get which many people don't so in relaity I would feel better off wouldn't I/ I mean, even the WTC is approx £40 more for us due to ds1's SN. Now, obv I'd hap[pliy swapf ro a cure but rhere isn't one, and I do worry that if another paty came in they'd take that away from us.

edam · 27/06/2007 17:29

Well, I liked the whole ceremony of it, esp. the bit where there was no prime minister at all, in between Tony leaving Buck house and Gordon arriving.

I'm not as cynical as I thought, because it does feel quite hopeful, somehow. I guess Tony's regime was just sooooo tired. Even though Gordon was a key player, I hope he will do things differently now he's in charge.

eleusis · 27/06/2007 17:38

But, Peachy, your benefits depend on everyone else's high taxes. And as interest rates climb people can less afford those taxes. If the economy dips -- and all the signs are there for downward turn, then the amount of tax collection goes down, and then he has less money and will have to adjust what he can pay out.

I just think he is headed for disaster... or rather we as a country are. ho hum...

eleusis · 27/06/2007 17:39

Than again perhaps it will help to feed a housing market crash. Now THAT I could be happy about.

TheMuppet · 27/06/2007 18:03

Well lets see shall we i just hope we are better off, i mean a know he didn't always agree with TB so lets hope he puts everything to good use

Peachy · 27/06/2007 18:15

Eleusis can I just point out that DH works and pays taxes, and that so did I untila few years ago- and will again soon- ours aren't mreans tested IS type ones, ours are disability benefits paid to the children. So we pay the taxes ourselves, and always have done.

eleusis · 27/06/2007 18:24

Peachy, I didn't mean that you shouldn't get the money. I just meant that if Gordon continues to try and tax this country into properity he may soon fine that people don't have much for him to tax. And if that happens there will be less in the pot for him to give to you. I'm not saying you shouldn't get it, just that his little piggy bank won't have anything in it.

eleusis · 27/06/2007 18:26

Winston Churchill comes to mind:

Trying to tax a nation into prosperity is like standing in a bucket and trying to pull yourself up by the handle.

What I mind is waste. Money for disabled kids (which I'm going to guess isn't a whole lot anyway) is not waste.

beansprout · 27/06/2007 18:30

I think it does matter. GB is a very different character to TB and is the sort of person I actually want to see as PM - a lifelong, committed, v intelligent and principled man.

Peachy · 27/06/2007 18:34

Eleusis i think the point anyway is that formerly policy was led by TB now we need to see how GB chooses to lead it. GB was a mentee of John Smith and as such is bound to have a different approach- we need to see what that is.