Ooh Look. Gordon U-turns on childcare vouchers

[onebatmother]

Well I never.

Hmm - not quite sure what to say

Is it possible that politicians are listening to the general public? That's a new idea

Well precisely Katy.
Times says embarrassing climbdown
Looks more like listening to me. Impressive.

Of course it's a climbdown.

If you are in listening mode, you don't make a decision first. You scout out opinions before making a decision.

Anyone could see that this decision would not be popular to those who use vouchers - d'oh!

finally! its about time he actually listened!!

But isn't it his job to make decisions?
If he just listened to everybody's point of view, he would never arrive at a decision.
It is reassuring to know that decisions are not final. Politics should be fluid.

only for basic rate tax payers. If you earn more than £34,600 no vouchers.

in the article it syas those earning more than £43,875 a year

Have you seen the comment from satnam shergill at teh bottom

He did back down over the 10p tax row. I just got an extra £60 in my pay packet as a result.

we won't get them anymore, despite a single household income.

He gave money back over the 10p thing.

I too think it is good when a leader listens to popular opinion. They shouldn't be afraid to U-turn for fear of being called flip floppers, they should be able to make decisions on emerging information/opinion.

Sorry, I've just cross-posted on the Alliance thread!

As you were...

Yes, riven, he did back down.
He realised his mistake and apologised in the house of commons.
He just didn't make a big fuss of it, and obviously it wasn't reported in the same way in the press ( they only want the stories to embarrass him).
I got £60 in my last wage. I will also pay about £10 a month less in tax. It makes a difference when I earn such a low wage ( I am a nursery nurse, so don't earn much, even though I work 40 hours a week and study for a degree as well)

agree with riven

i hate all this climbdown stuff, what was the alternative, just keep going?

can i just say 'a scheme that helps 340,000'... THAT is a fookin' disgrace. and i speak as one of the vast majority not helped by the poxy scheme.

I like people changing their minds if, for whatever reason, they decide it was a wrong decision. I especially like it when they change their minds before any policy change was put in place. What's not to like?

(I agree btw Aitch, the more I think about the scheme the more random it seems - this coming from a family that gets half the benefit and don't get me wrong we're glad of it. Random though.)

The problem is that he changed his mind for popularist reasons. He should have known before pulling the vouchers that it would not have been popular - it was a no brainer - and I think either a) his judgment is seriously flawed, b) he is weak, or c) both.

mp had a great and easy plan, which was to make childcare deductible to single/second parents. or a percentage of childcare. that would be great.

lol, really, you think that fivesetsofschoolfees? lol.

lol, if he changes his mind he is weak.

If he doesn't change his mind he is out of touch.

There has been a massive campaign by the voucher companies btw, I think a lot of the media kerfuffle came from that.

The scheme is part of the Labour government's pledge to half child poverty by 2010 and to abolish it by 2020.
Various bits of research have concluded that to abolish child poverty you have to break the cycle of poverty. Every Child Matters, Surestart and the Early Years Foundation Stage all aim to give children the best start in life, to avoid the poverty trap.
Good quality early years care is part of this aim. The EPPE project concluded that children who attended good quality childcare did better at school. Giving all children the same opportunities at an early stage is an ambitious plan to break down the barriers of inequality.
Well, that's the theory, anyway.

Great, so those on higher band income tax won't get the vouchers.

I am sick to death of this government penalising those who live in London with earnings/price thresholds. A family with one higher rate tax payer and one lower earner in London is NOT well off. Many are struggling in homes far too small for their families. Ditto single parents with one person earning £40,000.

We are lucky, we can manage without the saving (although it would be missed). This will hit a lot of London families very, very hard indeed.

He is facing an upcoming election so it's a u-turn for now but if he were to be elected you can bet he would do another u-turn and snatch the vouchers back again.

Kind of reminds me of the old westerns 'man speak with fork tongue'.