Nothing good about the Tories?

[MrsWobbleTheWaitress]

Can someone please explain to me what is so horrific about having a Tory government?

Don't get me wrong - I don't like Conservatism myself - but why the widespread panic? It's not as if it's a Lib/BNP coalition!

Is there nothing good about the Tories?

I listened to a very interesting radio show last night in which they discussed Thatcher. I must hold my hands up and admit that I was a baby during the early Thatcher-years so I can only speak of what I hear from other people.

Thatcher took milk from the schools - actually Thatcher voted AGAINST this policy but it went through and as Education minister at the time, she was blamed.

Thatcher closed the pits - many of those pits were unprofitable and it made no sense to keep them open. Had Scargill been less of a militant the miners could have secured a better deal.
Interestingly they said that more people have lost their jobs in the IT sector under Labour than miners lost their jobs under Labour.

Thatcher closed the steel plants in the North - what about the steel plants that are closing now? Or is that not Labours fault?

When it comes to the Falklands debate, the war was totally necessary IMO. The people of the Falklands wanted, and still want, to be governed by the UK. Therefore it is our duty to protect them and their interests.
We have had a claim on the Islands since before Argentina existed as a country.

I ought to add that my parents were anti-Tory in the 80s so I am in no way a biased voter. I just think on this occassion the Tories will do a better job.

IMO anyone who tries to blame the current situation on Thatcher policies is saying that Labour have done nothing positive in the last 13 years to remedy the situation.

Well said CaveMum.

If you're old enough, like me, to remember Britain pre 1979 then the Tories were actually a life-saving breath of fresh air initially. Britain was broke, nothing got done, there were power-cuts, wage freezes and strikes. The post-war socialist ideology of everything run by & subsidised by the government from telephones to oil wells to your gas supply had run its course and was out of date.

The Tories brought in the monetarist concept of the free market, survival of the fittest, ended up in a standoff with the unions and that was a very tough period for people in those traditional, subsidised industries - many of whom lost their jobs. The miners were particularly badly hit and many communities suffered for a long time. In those areas 'Tory' became synonymous with 'bogeyman'. But in other areas people prospered with the new opportunities, reduced taxation and other measures to stimulate business. People like me, in fact.

The Tory free-market philosophy went on far too long, the MPs became complacent and sleeze crept in. Labour should have won in 1992 but were still trying to take us back to an unpopular vision of sixties socialism and union control... Ironically, it was only Blair taking Labour to the right (closer to the Tory model) that got them in in 1997.

Chil, I like your post. It says what I would say if only I weren't so very desperate for a Conservative government that I am rendered semi coherent.

My experience of 80s Thatcherism was that it was a hugely exciting and prosperous time. My family are manufacturers, and they did very well under Thatcher. But I agree that the Conservatives were ultimately sunk by complacency and sleaze. Rather like Labour now, but in a slightly different way.

CaveMum, I liked your post too.

Obviously I meant more IT workers have lost their jobs under Labour than miners lost their jobs under Thatcher.

I think GB came across well in his farewell speech to his party followers - btw he stated he is standing down with immediate effect and Harriet Harman will take over. I have nothing against the man personally, he is a very intelligent man, but I happen to disagree with his party's current policies.

My family didn't do well under a Thatcher government, I grew up not having enough food to eat, having to borrow money for my father from my uncle. I had a terrible childhood. I have faith in David Cameron though. I really don't think this Conservative government is the same.

Harriett harman to run the Labour party!

because some of us have lived under a Tory regime

No, we lived under a Thatcher regime.

I've just remembered another reason why I did not vote Labour - Mandy! Shudder!

lol!

The Milliband brothers! [scary face]

Harriet Harman? [vomitous emoticon]

Still, at least she isn't the Prince of Darkness.

The pictures of Buckingham Palace look really nice now don't you think? The sky has cleared and looks so lovely.

I am ridiculously excited about the whole thing.

I know I won't agree with everything, but a good start will stabilise the economy and things can start to flourish again.

My God we needed a change.

The radio show I referred to earlier always plays what I can only describe as "The Darth Vadar March" from Star Wars whenever they replay a Mandy speech!

Dum dum de dum dum de dum dum de dum!

If this comes off, I will be so excited that I won't be able to sleep. Obviously it is not the answer to all our woes by any stretch of the imagination. But it is as if the sun is suddenly shining after 13 years of black cloud.

It did look rather spectacular, there was a lovely rainbow earlier aswell. I bet that volcano will now stop erupting, all fighting across the globe will stop and peace will be restored to earth once more

Out he comes!! Well done Dave!

Well I can't work and dh is bringing in very l;ittke atm (I akm a carer, dh lost his job last year anbd is self employed / retraining) and the memories of the Thatcher years are scaring my pants off tbh

I don't bele3ive they will axe our tc's but they are considering a proposal that might axe our DLA as thye would hand it to SSD and our SSD don't think we exist. So I would lose carers. And That won't stop ds1 or ds3's autism. And will stop us being able to afford the rent. And then we'll be stuffed and homeless. but hey my fault for having kids with flawed genes to paraphrase someone on MN not long ago.

I work for the NHS exhaustednurse, it's like that now!! We just have new snazzy hospitals with half the amount of staff needed to run them properly.

We are not in 1997, things move forwards, we build on the previous government, not go backwards.

(And my experience of Tories V labour- I worked in NHS pre 1997 and was a recipient of NHS care for boys after Labour- huge improvement. I also temped in VAT office under Ken Clarke- eeeek)

But you know David C, prove me wrong go on. I mthink I am a burden to the state, do you?

Now I remember why I ahven't MN'ed for a week or so- back off agin.

Im a nurse within mental health.

I am actually very worried about axing of MH services and my actual job.

I'm horrified that someone said that to you Sancti! That's terrible!!

We don't have a Thatcher government, we have a Cameron government. If he doesn't do a cracking job he'll have mumsnet on his back

Where's he said that MH services will/might be axed emma??

I can understand anxious memories of the Thatcher years, but it doesn?t much help to dwell on that now the Tories are in again. Looking on the bright side:

No ID cards.
Chance for Labour to regroup ? the best possible way will be in opposition at least for a year or two.
Mandelson out! (yay!)
Hopefully some revision of the bureaucracy involved in teaching and raising aspirations for teachers (they promised it, hope it can be delivered)