Am I the only person who struggles to listen to Ed Milliband?

Yes Carol it's a way of saying we aren't giving up yet - but we're running out of options, aren't we?

To TRY and find out what policies the opposition may be developing in preparation for government??? Can't say much was learned, though.

What on earth would you want to listen to Ed Milliband for?

The Scotland debate is heating up. On World at One there was a discussion today about moving the nuclear submarine which the Scots never wanted on their coastline in the first place. Idea: they could place it next to Boris's new airport in the Thames estuary and get all the necessary building done at the same time.
We could then open it for tourists to look at......, but there would be no Union Jacks flying just that awful red and white flag.

em I was in the SDP as well and still consider myself a Social Democrat - met all the 'gang of four' in the early days! Woe betide anyone who calls me a Liberal!

Annobel may I take my place in the queue? PLEASE!

em, I think a lot of people in Scotland feel as you do and I think that explains the last SNP landslide. It's not really Salmond's 'mandate' for independence, just Scottish voters' disgust with everything else! Which just goes to show, I think, how many of us who used to be idealistic and politically active, now feel mainly cynicism. A sorry state of affairs! I used to be very critical of so-called political apathy. Now I'm wondering if that is cynicism as well.

I'm with you there Annobel. Although interested in politics, I only became active when the SDP was formed. I really thought we had the answer and that Shirley Williams might just be the first female PM. I attended meetings, was election agent when a friend stood for office and became involved and motivated. Well, we know the end of that story! Like so many others I was delighted when Blair became PM and we know the end of that story too! I am not totally cynical but AM disappointed at the way things have gone. I think that's why I am now more supportive of SNP policies than I ever thought I'd be. Not so much down to a fervent desire for total independence but thankful that we are not stuck in the Labour/coalition rut and the hope that there might yet be another way. Who knows how this story will end? (Rhetorical question btw!)

Although I have previously been a political animal, I hardly listen to any politicians these days because they are so completely predictable. I itch to slap their complacent faces.

bagitha I know just what you mean. On the few occasions when I do want to listen to one, whatever he is saying is usually drowned out by Mr absent shouting at the television. We do read reports of what they have said in newspapers – usually out loud to each other (different newspapers) and in voices of total incredulity.

The more I think about this, the more I realise that I struggle to listen to any politician these days.

expatmaggie Reminds me of a saying for young men who want to get on in the world - "Doan't thee marry money, but go where money is"

I was also dismayed when David Milliband lost the leadership vote. I had not even heard of Ed then as I see who comes on German TV and David made a very good impression here.
As to China, their growth rate is slowing down and their workers now want a better wages and are demanding them but I remember in the depths of the Bank crisis that the chairman of BMW said on TV that the rich will always want luxury German cars and he has been proved right.

Its has always been the case, that if you want to make money, you produce goods and services for the rich because they will always have money and are greedy and want to spend it.

This is an observation, not my ideology because I have always been a socialist.

Hi Hattie64. Yes well it would be nice wouldn't it if they did get their act together.
Yes well Ed is not a tubthumper is he. But if he has any sense he will keep a fairly low profile about his own policies and try to build the party a bit in the next year or so.
Incidentally Jack Straw is making himself useful these days, taking on the issue of car insurance rackets. dog with a bone. If only each of those opposition ministers did the same.
Yvette C - well you'd have to be desperate wouldn't you.
Prince Andrew is not exactly gifted is he. Bit of a liability like his pa.
The Chinese economy grew by 9% last year. That is an astonishing figure and yes they are bound to have a few wobbles. However they ain't going to go away as an economic power, now that the dragon has been unleashed from the constraints of communism. My son was in Singapore last year and he said that in the 3 years since his previous visit there was a truly astonishing amount of hotel development. Catering for China's new rich.
So either we are going to end up continuing to buy lots of stuff off them or we need to work hard at making it two way. And that will not be easy. They are just about to allow more places to trade their currency and George O wants to make sure that the City gets a piece of the action. This would benefit all of us as the taxman would benefit. So we should hope he succeeds. It is a better use of ministerial time than cooking up ill thought out legislation like the health bill.

Wasn't Prince Andrew also trying to get foreign business? I gather the Chinese are also facing a financial meltdown,perhaps George is unaware of that!

jess, I'm quite shocked by that!

I am extremely worried regarding Eds leadership,but who is the alternative? I always favoured his brother David and was devastated when Ed was voted in. I also felt the same about Gordon Brown,I cancelled my membership to the party after that fiasco. I despair of the coalition and desperately want Labour to get their act together.

Apparently the Sunday Times did a reader questionnaire recently that asked - do you think ed milliband is too ugly to become prime minister. Most people did not apparently. (I read this in the independent, in the dentists)
But it is an illustration of the nasty little campaign the murdoch gang are running at the moment.

mrshat. Thank you for that I thought it was just me.

Yes sixtynotout, I do.

meant heckle not hectle

Could not help but comment at the mention of Ed Balls does anyone else think he comes over as being a bully? I cannot watch his stupid arm waving and hectling in the House of Commons.

But he was taking sense and I commented that I wished politicians would do this kind of thing more often (try to get more Chinese business)

No reason not to speak definitely and clearly Jess wherever you happen to have been educated, especially if you want to 'make' it in politics

yes well gally that is wot they teaches you in public schools innit