so before everyone here stops voting labour, can someone explain the tories childcare policies to me?

[ssd]

am a bit worried about all these nursery voucher threads, feel some voters won't vote labour because of this

but no one seems to know what the tories are planning - does anyone have an idea? I'd like to know, as I'm sure it won't be any better than what labour are planning to do..

Atlantis, interesting what you say about an inner London school in the 80s - would that have been under the Inner London Education Authority before it was abolished by the Tories?

The problems you describe with housing are massive problems which Labour have failed to address, but they inherited this treatment of Council housing and tenants from the Tories.

Callisto and happwomble,I'll join you.I've voted all my life and NEVER voted Labour.

Their erosion of civil liberties scares me.There is something very wrong with a state that needs to control it's citizens so much.DH 's work had a visit from the anti terrorist police because an innocent family dressed in traditional Muslim dress were seen taking photos.Well,they would,it is a tourist attraction!

The problem with threads like this is that people who vote Tory will bang on about how Labour has ruined the country and people who vote Labour will bang on about how great the world is.
Vote Lib Dem instead.

And atlantis, the golden school years were taken away by the introduction of the National Curriculum, SATS, etc.. All brought in by the Tories.

Err, I don't remember the tories stealing 40% of council rents from local councils under the tories.

And how many people in this country would own their own home (previously council properties ) that they brought at a 70% reduced rate (which labour cut to a maximum of £34.000) if the Conservatives ( maggie Thatcher) had not decided to do this?

As for the SATS tests being introduced under the tories, I didn't see labour ending them in the 12 years they have had power, in fact if anything they have increased the pressure on schools and children.

But as I have previously said, harking back to the past is a useless measure of how well a Conservative government will do in the future, shall we compare churchill, Thatcher, callaghan and Kinnock to present day polititians and the differences in social and moral attitudes? That is pointless.

Labour have had 12 years to get it right, now it's the Conservatives turn.

"And how many people in this country would own their own home (previously council properties ) that they brought at a 70% reduced rate (which labour cut to a maximum of £34.000) if the Conservatives ( maggie Thatcher) had not decided to do this?"

LOL! That depends on how much you value having very little council housing stock left available for those who really need it. Another example of Tories attacking families in need just like Cameron when he voted against these as listed by somebody further down the thread:

against the introduction of two weeks' paternity leave
against extending maternity leave
against family friendly hours in parliament
against increasing maternity pay
against working tax credits and child tax credits
against the right to request flexible working

Oh sorry - those who need council housing are usually lazy layabouts and scroungers, aren't they?

I'm not a Labour voter either but I think one would be a fool to forget how the Tories have always eroded families and communities with their vile policies. I really really don't trust them either. And to forget history, is to forget any lessons learned.

Labour will lose next year but I won't be dancing on their grave because much worse will come under the Tories.

But Labour have not allowed councils to build, only private firms and housing associations.

I'm not a staunch tory and I know sometimes they have their head up their butt but they are the only vote a person can make to get Labour out of power and I do not want another five years of Labour.

We will have civil liberty under the tories which I value.

Government should take care of the political clap trap and allow families to take care of themselves.

I'm fed up with big brother and the way we have devolved our powers to europe.

I don't think tory voters are stupid enough to believe that all will be bright and sunny under the conservatives, but it will be a damned sight better than under Labour.