Comments on: George Osborne has learned his trade from Gordon Brown

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:39:57 +0000

Thanks Les. I can see now that Steven was being ironic. It is a pity that David Talbot and Rob Marchant are being serious!

By: David Talbot

David Talbot — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 09:34:27 +0000

Steven,

It’s all well and good leaving clever and deeply ironic comments, but don’t suppose for a minute that if Labour votes against Osborne’s proposals (which it seems it will); it will damage the Labour party.

By: LesAbbey

LesAbbey — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:27:15 +0000

Steven please give us, those that aren’t as swift as they should be, some warning when you are being ironic. At first I thought you must be a member of Progress.

By: Dan McCurry

Dan McCurry — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 09:37:34 +0000

It’s right to reduce welfare when the economy is doing well, but in the middle of a recession it’s very wrong.
You also have to take into account that Labour councillors, in the surgeries, are beginning to meet the people who are being made homeless by these policies.

Miliband needs to show that he’s tough and not be pushed around by Osborne.

By: Steven

Steven — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:12:17 +0000

Robert: “join the Tory Party or UKIP”

But to suggest an link between values and particular political parties pre-supposes a stability within the political scene which no longer exists: the game now is one of perceptions. Hence David’s disorienting reference to Osborne’s “Brownite arsenal”.

And, as David points out, Osborne’s trick is to cause Labour to conform to compassionate expectation and humanitarian principle.

The predicted “dark truths about the Labour party” that will be mumbled by “the public” following a vote against an “electorally popular limitation on benefit payments” would betoken a discernment of compassionate motivation. This would associate Labour with a principled sense of shared humanity. Do we really want to go that far?

By: keith

keith — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 21:28:39 +0000

After 13 years of Brown the electorate can now see the consequences of his obsession with political point scoring, not only against the Tories, but also against his own side in trying to dethrone Blair to get the top job.
Brown may have cultivated, with the aid of his spin doctors, the image of an iron chancellor. but his legacy has now been left bare for us all to see. This man is a disgrace to the Labour party who has left everyone down with a massive debt burdon that we will carry for years to come. This article shows that if the Tories have any sense, they should learn from this and replace Osborne with a more honest chancellor now.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:38:19 +0000

I agree William, Labour should vote against the 1% increase. Like Brown, Osborne is not as clever as he thinks he is.

Steven, what is the point in a Labour Party with less compassion than the Conservatives? None! You should join the Tory Party or UKIP if you think that being tough on claimants is a good idea.

By: Steven

Steven — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:57:45 +0000

The way to victory is to be even tougher on claimants than the Tories. Polling shows that this is popular and if you’re not in the game to win then what’s the point.

Labour should get the better of Osborne by voting against the 1% cap AND instead, propose a benefits freeze.

By: william macvean

william macvean — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:31:19 +0000

what is wrong with welfare its for people who have lost their jobs because of sickness or being made redundent.Its for people who have lost their partners and have to bring up their family alone.Why are we making people who are already going hungry and dont have enough money to heat their homes pay for tax cuts for wealthy and rescue banks.