lefties 7:compare the tory.com

[HerHonesty]

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

Full text of policy agreement here

Civil Liberties:

The parties agree to implement a full programme of measures to reverse the substantial erosion of civil liberties under the Labour Government and roll back state intrusion.

This will include:

A Freedom or Great Repeal Bill.

The scrapping of ID card scheme, the National Identity register, the next generation of biometric passports and the Contact Point Database.

Outlawing the finger-printing of children at school without parental permission.

The extension of the scope of the Freedom of Information Act to provide greater transparency.

Adopting the protections of the Scottish model for the DNA database.

The protection of historic freedoms through the defence of trial by jury.

The restoration of rights to non-violent protest.

The review of libel laws to protect freedom of speech.

Safeguards against the misuse of anti-terrorism legislation.

Further regulation of CCTV.

Ending of storage of internet and email records without good reason.

A new mechanism to prevent the proliferation of unnecessary new criminal offences.

Thanks ginger. She is such a bloody fool.

I am just waiting for the RW Nicholas Soames type tories to start sniping.

Unbelievable. The press didn't ask any difficult questions like, 'if you are in such agreement about most things, why don't the Lib Dems tear up their constitution and join the Tory party en masse?'

or, 'how do think the grassroots LD party feel after convincing people on the doorstep there was a huge difference between their party and the Tories?'

Just watched news conference. Is it just me or has Nick Clegg totally lost whatever gravitas he had during those debates?

Hello just catching up - haven't seen the news conference yet. Agree with jenny60 on two counts; let's keep the leftie threads going and am impressed by posting level on these threads!

Have been reading this about what Vince Cable would like to do - let's hope it happens. I reckon the Tories will be glad to let Vince do the unpopular work for them - that way they can remain chummy with their City friends.

TBH there are about three things I care about or think will come off amongst those civil liberties reforms.

I particularly like the last one, which sounds very much like a Law Against Bad Things.

I am just not a libertarian. I accept that the state needs to be strong to do the things I want it to do - and even where things are patently not right, they are well down my list of Not Right Things. I don't really care hugely about the rights of the individual. They always seem to be waved around by those whose other philosophies I don't share or even actively dislike.

OBM, totally agree with you. I think libertarianism is often an excuse for not taking action.

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/may/12/profile-michael-gove-schools-secretary

I have just read this article and am very worried about my daughters secondary school now.

"Gove has advocated a return to traditional values in the classroom, stating that he expects pupils to wear ties and would be in favour of ex-soldiers imposing discipline. He has taken a tougher line on teacher training by stating that teachers are not up-to-scratch unless they have at least a 2:2 degree. "

Yeah I'm not a civil libs botherer on the whole. Anyone else read 'Outlawing the finger-printing of children at school' and think they're outlawing finger-painting?

There used to be a time when I could take the power lead out the back of the telly and DS1 would think it had mysteriously broken. Now he just finds the power lead and plugs it back in. Time to take the fuses out.

finger-painting.

RötenZora - I'm less bothered by that than the fact that existing schools' budgets will go to stabilising new, (small) schools for middle class children, in middle-class enclaves - because nasty councils built schools in poor areas, miles from the leafiness, and thus filled them with too many poor folk.

sorry if that doesn't make sense but I am alarmed at this on a v. personal level today.

The emphasis on top degrees for teachers is absolutely bizarre - it bears no relationship to their ability to teach. Good article on it here

at outlawing fingerpainting.

They can do it with parental permission so now there will be permission slips specifically dedicated to our wishes for fingerpainting

Ive got mine done already.

"I give permission for DS to use red. Yellow or blue only permissible if not side by side. They do not go together half as well as some people think"

Yes Toast - the DSs' school has just one non-graduate teacher. She's been there for about 15 years and she's the dog's bollocks.

jetplane

The emphasis on getting a top degree is even more peculiar when you consider that in the Tories' beloved private schools you don't even need a teaching qualification. On second thoughts, that probably proves that they think the ability to actually teach is secondary.

LOL leaving.

Am pretty happy at most of those civil liberties moves tbh, esp as they are the first detailed thing they have given out (are they? I'm a bit apt to catch up with the thread backwards.)

I expected them to start singing Bring Me Sunshine and dancing out of the conference with their hands on the back of their heads. I must be a lot older than you, Justabout .

animula exactly my dd goes to a "sink" school in a far from middle class area. They have 20 % ish A-C pass rate and need help. They do not need to be beaten up by ex soldiers and to wear ties. How the hell will that make things better ! Things can only get worse from now on.

Missed the press conference, been taking pretty pictures of vegetables for our photo exhibition in Autumn. The things I do to keep busy as a Trailing Spouse. Almost afraid to say that I am in the American International Womens' Club. Sort of a Stepford Wives meets the WI.

LOL at finger painting regulation.

I don't know much about Teresa May (aside from what I have read on this thread) but I do think that it is good that they have a couple of rabid right-wingers in the cabinet. Nothing like it for scaring the shit out of the electorate and sending them all left-ward.

oh I didn't know Gove was married to sarah vine

was quite entertained by leader of Kent council (tory) complaining that the policy to create new schools would divert funds away from existing schools, and then when picked up on this by Labour had to back-track furiously and say actually what a great idea this was