lefties 7:compare the tory.com

[HerHonesty]

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

Just wanted to de-lurk and hold up my hands as an avowed leftie. These threads have kept me sane over the past week, particularly last week when I was dreading the idea of a Conservative majority government - something which I'm amazed and very happy that we've avoided.

Saying that, I am still slightly depressed at the idea of a Conservative PM and I do feel (probably a bit irrationally) sad that the Lib-Dems, who I have a lot of time for generally, have jumped into bed with the Tories. I know understand the reasons they've done it but I still can't quite believe it.

I think, overall, Labour were right to bow out relatively gracefully and start putting the party back together and injecting it with new ideas. One thing that I have found is that all this has at least reawakened a real interest in politics in me again, something which has been dormant for quite a few years now and which, deep down, I've missed.

Thank you to everyone whose comments have kept me cheered and gripped to the screen throughout all this uproar. It's been such a pleasure to read what likeminded souls felt about it all.

welcome Celtic! Do stay and post.

Alastair Campbell to publish his diaries.

Wonder if he had an agreement to wait until GB was out of office.

Hello Celtic

Yes Mme, I think he said in the Foreword to 'The Blair Years' that there was stuff he wouldn't publish until Labour left office.

Ahhhhhhh, that explains a lot.

I did wonder why he was looking so thoroughly bobbish and cheery these last few days.

He's probably jolly pleased that those lovely royalty cheques will finally be coming along now.

He hasn't wasted much time then has he? lol

D Mil has just announced his candidacy. Not v inspiring speech IMO.

It'll be the publishers who haven't wasted much time - probably in his contract that they rush them out the minute Labour goes.

Ed wasn't in the crowd around him, so presumably...

Celtic, I know what you mean. It's the first time I've felt politically alive (though really ) in years. A pity it takes Labour being in opposition to reawaken it. A friend said 'We're back in our happy place: Maggie, Maggie, Maggie, out, out, out.' Wd prefer to be in govt though.

Oh dear. DD just crawled onto my lap and fell asleep. She is 8yo. Don't know when she last did that.

Friend from school diagnosed with scarlet fever this morning.

Shite

"Gove is thought to be the brains behind a Tory policy under which parents and charities will be able to set up their own schools free of local authority control. The model is based on US charter schools and Swedish free schools."

How are they going to feel when all the schools set up are muslim, jewish, hare krishna etc etc?

Don't worry Mme. My ds had scarlet fever. It's treatable with anti biotics. Watch out for a sore throat and temp.

Anyone any idea about SF complications with asthma/COPD. My Dad is arriving tomorrow.

[glum]

Oh, fingers crossed MmeL. Poor DD.

Thanks for the welcome everyone.

thetoriesaretoast - I think you're right about being back in the default position, it's easier to be angry with a Government you don't support than one you do.

I just wanted to say that I loved reading everyone's back stories a while ago so thought I would just give mine. I grew up as the child of really Leftie parents (CND, Save the Whale, Ceilidhs, weaving - you get the drift) stranded in a Conservative, rural, farming community in the north of England. Eventually, I did find someone whose parents were also Labour supporters and I was so relieved I promptly married him.

It is still predominantly Conservative Central up here but there are a lot more Lefties than there used to be and I think that's a reflection of the shift to the left of centre in the UK that has taken place under Labour. It's pretty stunning that, as unpopular as they were, Labour weren't annihilated last week. I'm really heartened by that.

Can't get too excited about the Labour candidates for the leadership though, just wish I liked Miliband more.

God just saw the PC. That was a whole lot of lovin' goin' on, wasn't it?