so if labour aren't still in power on 7th may...

[duckyfuzz]

what will change?

didn't want to hijack the other thread, but there are loads of people talkign about leaving the country if they are still in, so if they're not, what will be so good about it?

Personally, I'm really concerned about the way Labour have treated home educating parents. Having become pretty invovled in politics because of it I'm suddenly aware of all kinds of things that are horrifically wrong with the current governments response to people actually trying to engage with them.

I knew this on some level (Iraq, ID cards, etc) but I don't think I realised just how bad it was - but when 90 something% of responses to a consultation say 'we don't think LA officials should be seeing children alone without following proper child protection procedures' and the government turn around and say - you're entitled to your opinion but we're going to ignore it, then I just don't see how they can call themselves anything other than a dictorship. The consultation had around 5000 responses, btw, it wasn't something like 9 out of 10 people.

I don't doubt that the other parties have serious problems too - BUT I do think that new party will be more cautious about brushing over public opinion if they hope to win a second term in power. I also think that we'll have smaller majorities which ought to be a good thing as it will force parties into proper debate (also been horrified by the way the whip system makes MPs speaking out against a Bill vote for it anyway - don't see how that is representing their constituants at all) and more representitive of the way people have actually voted. One party having the majority shouldn't mean that they don't have to get the minorities agree to things because they still represent a significant proportion of the country.

I think that if they don't get back in power and the conservatives win there will be a lot of very upset people.

I think there will be a massive celebration then the cuts (inevitabley who ever gets in) will begin.

I think there will be a number of protests but things will start to happen. I am very interested in what will happen if the vote is very close

And we'll see the Conservatives cut our Children's Centres for all but the poorest families - www.saveoursurestart.com. There are undoubtedly things wrong with the current government, but its dangerous to throw it all in for an alternative that is likely to be worse for many mums.

Katebish I agree. I am a big user of my local Childrens Centre and it would be a tragedy if it was closed. I just dont believe the Tories really care about this kind of stuff - if they did they'd be talking about expanding its services not cutting them

The arts sector would be shafted. The Tories have this idea that rich people will engage in philathropic giving.

Snort.

philanthropic

I work in Higher Education. We are already planning for next year with the assumption that the Conservatives will be in and our budgets slashed.

There's a choice really isn't there? A fluffy daycare centre for your kid today - or your child paying Labour's debts for the rest of their lives.

So... how much do you love your kids?

I will feel happy. That will be a big change.

Well said skihorse

there is a lot of talk about cutting the debt but actually its no worse that after WW2 when we still managed to set up the NHS. We can't afford to let the tories cut services just because they don't value them or use them.

Skihorse you've made an excellent point. There was an interesting piece in the Times today about investing in Sure Start versus investing in young peoples' futures.

Link is here

Whoever is in power after 6th May is going to have to make some hard decisions.

Sorry, I'm a bit cynical about the www.saveoursurestart.com thing. It was launched by Ed Balls & says clearly that it's run by the Labour Party. The Tories according to that Times article have repeatedly stated they're committed to SureStart. Whether that's true or not, well, we'd have to find out in the event of a Tory government I suppose. But the C4 fact-check blog (which I linked to on another post) is pretty useful in letting us get as many of the facts behind all the cross-party claims pre-election. Bloody glad somebody's doing it

As a mother to three small children I actually feel that all this scaremongering by Ed Balls & Co is a complete insult to my intelligence. Do they really think that I'll vote Labour on the basis of what they say the Tories will do to Sure Start?

ha, well WilfandWilma I suspect that politics and who you vote for is as much about emotion as intelligence, which is why Ed & Co feel free to insult it - don't most of them? He does have an incentive given he and his wife clear 300k plus a year in salary and expenses. Who wouldn't be flinging facts around with gay abandon if that and a future job as Chancellor were under threat

I do wish they'd keep the "emotional" crap out of it - as wilfandwilma says, we're not stupid. This game of "I'll see your blind eye and raise you a dead baby" is absolutely bloody unbelievable.

I must admit, I'm not really aware of what surestart does (I've been living outside the UK for 10 years), but I'm sure it's more for mummy's benefit than baby's. I'm expecting my first and I've already reached the conclusion that from here on in my decisions have to be what's best for my children and not for me. Yes, I'm a martyr already!

ohdeary Which services do you think people who vote Conservative don't value? Seriously, I can't begin to imagine what you might think they might be.

"I'm not aware of what surestart does.. but I'm sure it's more for mummy's benefit than baby's".

ie "I don't know what I'm on about but I've managed to form a strident opinion anyway"

My strident opinion dictates that I must do what is best for the country rather than what suits my day. I think it's pretty simple.

I have childcare arrangements in place for my child, I'm not relying on the government.

So biscuit yourself away.

Why the I know bugger all about services for disabled people because I'm lucky enough not to need them, doesn't mean I can have an opinion about their value does it?

I personally think we need to be realistic here whoever is in power will need to reduce public service spending, you can slice it anyway you like but the country cannot afford to keep spending like this. So some tough choices have to be made and frankly, perhaps we do need to address the things that are luxuries like support services. Yes I know people rely on agencies to help them but let's imagine for a second that we did things slightly differently, and dare I say in an old fashioned way where families and communities helped out?

Priorities are:

1 Everyone has enough to eat and somewhere to live
2 Everyone has healthcare to keep them alive
3 Vulnerable adults and children get the protection they need.

Once we've solved those problems then yes, let's spend the rest on stuff that is valuable but will not actually save your life.

whomovedmychocolate I don't think it really matters who is in charge, those 3 situations you've listed I think will always be a priority in any decent westernised society - no matter what. I doubt you'd find anyone on this website who'd disagree - which is why I'm always astounded that people seem to think the Tories would have the "needy" scavenging from bins... what an odd conclusion to draw.

I agree, we as a populace need to apply logic to a situation. If we cannot afford it, we can't buy it. I can't walk in to John Lewis and have a tantrum because they won't let me take what I "want".

wmmc you need to add Education to that list. With out education we can't move forward.

SureStart Childrens Centres do not provide childcare just to clear up any confusion here. They provide a variety of resources and groups to support families for children under 5. Our local centre runs mother and baby/toddler groups, speech therapy, healthy eating, self-esteem and positive skills groups for young mothers, baby massage, teenage parents antenatal support, CAB sessions, behaviour support etc etc. They also provide a fabulous outreach service to support families who have a variety of problems which includes a dedicated outreach service for the local women's refuge, behaviour management and support, mental health support.
As a HV I would be devastated if the service were to be hugely reduced as without this my job (already understaffed/approaching 700 families on my caseload in a very deprived area) would be 10 times harder than it already is. At least I have a service I can refer families into at the moment. Prior to the advent of these childrens centres there was very little to meet the needs of families with young children.

Thanks for the link bobthebudda. I already know that there are no plans to completely do away with surestart centres but it's good to see a link for others who are hearing the scare stories in the press.

JollyPirate I am stunned. Can the parents/family not provide (most of) this themselves? Is this what we have arrived at? A state in need of babysitting? Seriously, a government group for "healthy eating"? Baby massage? CAB sessions? etc., etc. ad nauseum.