lefties 7:compare the tory.com

[HerHonesty]

sorry couldnt think of anything else. gideon in charge of the economy..

Seriously? Will they get rid of women/equality minister position?

Lol Justabout!

I think this thread is a nice little bubble. I am trying to talk to my colleagues about it, but they are either vaguely pleased that a tory is in (so not worth talking to), rabid foaming at the mouth right wingers (to be avoided), or just pissed off that the news displaced Eastenders last night (daft apeths).

Is just a guess Pffft. Cons have never had any time for the equality agenda and large proportion of the Libs think it's a red herring too. If they do keep it, will they have the gall to give it to a privately educated white man?

Reading last night that the Libs lost a few of their most leftish MPs (incl. Harris) and that some of those remaining, incl. the magnificent Norman Baker, are those most likely to defect. (Tho if Baker defects I wonder whether he will keep his seat at the next election - much as I love Lewes I can't see it electing a Lab MP.)

It was really good (this thread) las night when we were waiting for the GB speech.

I had a look at the general 'GB resignation' thread in active convos, it wasn;t the same. They were talking about Sarah's VPL, and loads of people on there going good riddance etc.

Glad to have this thread.

Just marking place, going out in a mo and haven't caught up.

Feeing very up and down this morn, quite optimistic one mo, gloomy the next.

I think that we have to wish the coalition well as if successful it will lead to continuation of a centrist pragmatic govt. I have always liked DC but dislike his party.

Labour should renew itself and be ready for if/when this govt fails.

Starting to think that Dave Miliband might have the substance as well as the appearance that the television age is demanding.

Dave+Nick vs Dave.

Labour also need to keep and promote its talented women. I wouldn't object to Hewitt being brought back + Harman staying prominent.

I know this is late in the thread but another person here passionately against ghettoising surestart.

Yes, provide them in the most needy areas.

Yes, do more awareness work/outreach to lower income families who might want to use their services.

But some kind of means testing at the door?

No no no. It would totally undermine the ethos and the enormous public support there is for them. People are hugely supportive of them precisely because they are open to all. It would be the equivalent of means-testing comprehensive schools IMO.

There's something tickling at the back of my mind about Harriet Harman - I know she had trouble with donations a year or so ago, but wasn't there something else slightly suspect a number of years ago? Or am I confusing her with someone else?

Cameron is a social Liberal at heart and will try to use the Liberals as a tie-in to Liberal policies. The pin stripes of the 1922 committee; the Bill Cash types will at some point resist and maybe strike. Let's see how we go.

Ive come straight back to this thread when it all began to sink in this morning.

I managed to resist tears for the last 6 days but when I saw the agreement made on immigration in black and white this morning I just wept. This is just day one.

Harriet Harman had problem with mobile, car accident and having to hurry off to meeting.

Ok, caught up, with this thread at least.
(puter on go slow in protest)

I'm afraid I can't yet see anything good about any of this. (nor can I believe Paddy Pantsdown is even still compos mentis, yet alone being considered for ministerial office)

I think I might need a more lefty lefty thread than this one.

Ah yes! Thank you, TDiddy.

A good friend of mine is in charge of a SureStart centre, and she says it's currently hijacked/ghettoised by pushy, MC mums and its intended beneficiaries don't use it AT ALL. Baby massage, anyone?

Just musing, but ... the spectacle of Labour being led by a caretaker woman, whilst a bunch of men - and probably only men - tussle it out for leadership is going to be most unedifying. Don't you think?

Yes, cap on non-EU immigration v depressing.

Poledra, HH was very tied up in the expenses stuff, on the wrong side until the very last minute - voted against all the reform/transparency measures.

Simon Hoggart v good, especially 'they've learnt to pace from West Wing".

That has not been my experience of Surestart in my fairly deprived area.

Ppl are tweeting - elected HoL, using PR, early in this parliament - good thing, no?

Caught up now, marking my place.

Animula, didn't that happen under Margaret Beckett (whatever happened to her?) after John Smith died? Was appalled by it at the time but put it down to her complete lack of charisma (i.e. caravanning as a hobby).

V. grateful to have this thread as a support line during whole election shenanigans. I'd been hoping that if the Cons got in they'd screw up the economy and be kicked out again. But now I keep remembering how the country swallowed the whole 'if it isn't hurting it isn't working' line in the Thatcher years and worry we might go back to that ridiculous masochism that the Tories seem to bring out in us. Under Labour, everyone was (past tense - ugh!) outraged at the idea that there might be pain as a result of the recession. Under the Tories we'll probably just roll over and take it and they'll get lots of kudos for being brutal.

Feeling very depressed.