Good things that the Labour Government has done in the last 12 years.

[MrsMerryHenry]

Come on, with an election due, shall we see if we can come up with a balanced appraisal of them before we vote?

(keep your eyes out for Thread 2 on this theme)

LOL
Bookstart.. um
Actually definitly more money in education to be fair, lots more in NHS too, just a shame so much of it is in consultant and gp's pockets..

Surestart
Foundation Stage, Birth to Three Matters and now the Early Years Foundation stage
Nursery Education Grant
Minimum wage
Cutting waiting time for hospital appointments
and now my tea is ready

Interest rates, inflation, unemployment, have been low.

Agree on NHS and schools.

Don't really think that, at the moment, we can credit them with low unemployment tbh

The minimum wage and Surestart are their crowning achievements IMO. Taking child poverty seriously, taking global warming/green initiatives seriously.

Winning the Olympic Bid - although I might list that in the demerits thread too

Over 12 years probably can. But yes it is going up now sadly. Caused mainly by banking crisis?

Civil partnerships (and generally pushed a more 'grown up' attitude to gay people)

northern Ireland (Mo Mowlam should take the credit for that)

Paternity leave

Overseas development is a HUGE one. Pre-97, the Overseas Development Administration (Thatcher's 'aid' body) had a specific remit to use aid budgets to grease the palms of those who might purchase UK goods, particularly defence ordinance and large infrastructure projects. There was no emphasis on - indeed, no interest in - tackling poverty or inequality.

One of the first things Labour did, post '97, was to set up the Department for International Development (DFID), with a specific remit to tackle poverty. It also outlawed the use of development funds as a bait for buying British goods.

DFID, over the last 12 years, has become one of the most respected and internationally admired national aid agencies, and is regarded as a towering example of innovation and good practice.

Tax Credits

So (current high unemployment) caused mainly by GB then...
Agree Mo Mowlam inspirational in NI

Childcare Voucher Scheme

Child poverty is such bullshit. Children are poor because their families are poor. Treating children as a separate class of human is one of the most pernicious things new labour have done.

increased paid maternity leave

Ed Miliband's recent carbon plan took lots of green campaigners by surprise, in that it's actually rather good

Labour's budgets, according to independent research by the IFS, have been consistently redistributive - ie, they took money away from the richest and gave it to the poorest.

Not sure if global banking crisis can be blamed on GB alone.

Macpherson inquiry

all-women shortlists

Getting rid of double jeapordy law
Civil Partnerships
Extended MAT leave
Paternity leave
Free fruit for Key Stage 1
More money to schools & NHS
Hunting ban

I loved Mo Mowlam. RIP Mo.

Met her on a few ocassions, even had tea in her Redcar house. Lovely lady.

repealed clause 28

mimimum wage.

PW;

doubt many people give a toss about DFID...esp when this country is in such a mess....sort your own problems out before taking on the worlds..

have to disagree with you on all-women shorlists aswell....sexist.

Human Rights Act
Tony Benn

Had GB not deregulated so much of the finacial services I doubt we would have been hit so hard by the current recession, he allowed this rediculous trading to take place. He is definitly more part of the problem than the solution imo.

daftpunk I think that DFID is more important than ever now actually, the link between poverty and unstable government is clear. There are good reasons why DFID's budget has been protected at the moment. The worlds problems are our problems because the economy is so globalised.

I'm intrigued as to what Tony Benn, lovely chap and outstanding speaker that he is, has actually done during this government??