An election looms, so I think it is time to look at all the success over the 13 years that we have witnessed from the government.

It seems to me that if it's your own political party in power, they can do very little wrong. But if it's the opposition, then every failing is blown out of proportion to make a point.

Maybe a promise should also be to explain what happened to the extra millions that were promised, written on the side of a bus, for the NHS ..........and all the other so called 'benefits' of leaving the EU ! Total disaster for everyone ,,,,now we no longer have the same co operation from the EU that we once had ...why should we ? SOME voted leave the club ....so why should the club continue to help the UK ....cannot see any manifesto (which is generally not worth the paper it is written on !) being adhered to ......empty promises as usual

Cossy

Maybee70

It was proven that there were no weapons of mass destruction and that the information given to MPs to vote upon wasn’t accurate. I question Mr Blair’s honestly due to the amount of property he “acquired” whilst PM given his wife was a barrister and he was PM, as a couple they certainly were not in the financial brackets as our current PM & his wife.

Some facts that may make you change your mind about Blair's "dishonesty"

In 1997 as I'm sure we all know, Blair became PM and moved into Downing Street. In the same year the Islington house was sold for £615k making a profit of £240k. I assume, that like everybody else he would have paid a deposit and would have paid of a chunk of his mortgage during the period of his ownership.

Of course none of us know exactly how much cash he went away with.

Having moved into Downing Street in 199 he remained there until 2007.

PMs live rent free in Downing Street and also get an annual allowance of £30k towards wear and tear and council tax. I believe they may get taxed on the benefit of light and heat etc being paid for them.

The Blairs bought their Connaught Square house in 2004 for £3.6million. I doubt very much if it was bought outright. If they were canny they had plenty of time, not paying a mortgage on their private residence for most of that time, to build up a decent portfolio. He left Downing Street in 2007 with a £300k severance package. Cherie Blair was a high earner (not all barristers are poor)

I suspect that they had the energy and ability to make money without having to resort to dishonesty.

Wealth isn’t a crime.

Being wealthy doesn’t mean that you lose your empathy gene.

One doesn’t have to be poor to realise the day to day struggles of those who are.

GrannyGravy13

Cossy why should wealth exclude anyone from becoming PM?

I think it's because our current PM seems to be completely divorced from the reality of the lives of a huge section of the electorate, and others have been so in the past.

Of course, in the case of Blair, Labour PMs aren't supposed to be wealthy... or acquisitive. We leave that to the tories...

GrannyGravy13

Cossy why should wealth exclude anyone from becoming PM?

... good question.

In principle, it shouldn't should it?

I held my nose and voted Lib Dem once, I couldn’t vote Labour.

Looks like my vote will go to an Independent.

Cossy why should wealth exclude anyone from becoming PM?

Oh, I did once 😁

Callistemon21

I remember being hauled over the coals on here a long time ago because I said I have been a floating voter occasionally.

However, if everyone voted for the same party every time we would not have a change of Government, at least until enough new, young voters decided a change was needed.

Agreed. I am a floating voter- although I could never ever vote Conservative.

Divide and Conquer springs to mind every time politics comes up here and in other places. It’s perfectly ok to debate and have different experiences, allegiances, opinions, it’s not ok to be rude to people just because they disagree. Come in Grannetters, we’re better than that and I’m sure each and everyone in this group wants a stable and peaceful future for our children and grandchildren. Yes all govts let us down at times, yes politicians make mistakes. However, imo, anyone who can still support this particular cabinet and thinks it’s great to have an ex PM who is a proven liar and a current PM who is a billionaire, with one in between who caused financial chaos and instability needs to look very hard at what’s actually been going on in our govt.

I remember being hauled over the coals on here a long time ago because I said I have been a floating voter occasionally.

However, if everyone voted for the same party every time we would not have a change of Government, at least until enough new, young voters decided a change was needed.

By the way in terms of politics, I’m a slightly left of centralist but would certainly vote Labour in the next election, only for the second time in my life.

Maybee70

It was proven that there were no weapons of mass destruction and that the information given to MPs to vote upon wasn’t accurate. I question Mr Blair’s honestly due to the amount of property he “acquired” whilst PM given his wife was a barrister and he was PM, as a couple they certainly were not in the financial brackets as our current PM & his wife.

Casdon

Callistemon21

Oh people you soon forget how it was under Blair!

Oh, but he did stop smoking in public places for which I will be forever grateful Zoe65!

I could name a lot of things that were better under Blair, public services ran far more effectively, waiting lists were shorter. Actually, my political memory is long, it goes back even further than Thatcher, Thatcher, Milk Snatcher.
Anybody who is even slightly left of centre is branded a leftie on here, it’s actually quite amusing - I don’t think people realise that many of us are centre left, whereas they are much further to the right. I suppose it’s all relative.

Casdon

Anybody who is even slightly left of centre is branded a leftie on here, it’s actually quite amusing

It gets tedious - this "leftie" branding.

Criticism of the current government does not automatically make anyone a leftie. If that were the case, then some of my Conservative-voting acquaintances must also be "lefties". I am left of centre and frequently, we are in agreement.

... and Zoe65, Starmer will not take us back into the EU. That is simply tabloid-tattle. He knows, like the majority of those of us who didn't want to Leave, that at the moment, and probably for some years to come, it is a complete non-starter. He might, of course, engineer a more cordial relationship with the EU, and that would make sound sense economically which is what matters - much as you might disapprove.

Some, if not most, of our problems, were not because we were in the EU, they were home-grown. As Boris Johnson himself recognised and re-iterated once. If we left the EU, we would end this sterile debate, and we would have to recognise that most of our problems are not caused by “Bwussels”, but by chronic British short-termism, inadequate management, sloth, low skills, a culture of easy gratification and underinvestment in both human and physical capital and infrastructure. An article he penned for The Telegraph.

He was right then and under duress, would probably admit it as more truthful than all the BS he came out with in order to become PM by getting Brexit over the line. However, Boris Johnson and the truth seemed to go their separate ways a long time ago.

Callistemon21

DaisyAnneReturns

Callistemon21

How rude!!

Who? What?

I find sticking "How rude" in a post, attached to nothing or no one, aggressive. But at least you know the who, what and why of it.

Would you care to explain? I'm sure we will all be very interested.

Yes, I should have quoted you.

But I was rather shocked at your rude post to aonk.

What on earth was "rude" about that post?

Cossy

Vaccine was developed by scientists from many different country just based here and I’d say the swift roll out was due to our amazing NHS and literally thousands of volunteers, including those who helped test it. Yes , well done Johnson for releasing the necessary funds and for taking ALL the credit !

Other EU countries very soon caught up with vaccination. Going off alone à la Johnson has meant that the UK had to pay much more per dose than other countries that worked together- and it has cost massive amounts of money.

DaisyAnneReturns

Callistemon21

How rude!!

Who? What?

I find sticking "How rude" in a post, attached to nothing or no one, aggressive. But at least you know the who, what and why of it.

Would you care to explain? I'm sure we will all be very interested.

Yes, I should have quoted you.

But I was rather shocked at your rude post to aonk.

Casdon

Callistemon21

How rude!!

Sorry, but that is my opinion. I would never have said that in the past, I think that the cabinets were honourable and doing their best for the country, even though I didn’t agree with much of what they did. There are some very good Tory MPs, it’s the leadership I have the issue with. I’ve seen no evidence at all that since Johnson came into power they have the interests of the country at heart.

No, Casdon, not you!! 🙂

It was DAR's rather rude comment to aonk
Unpleasant.

WWM2 is mischief making but obviously does not watch the stock market. Anyone who has collected ISAS over the years will.like me, have experienced big losses on many shares, although as I never sell these days, I can hope the share market will recover. I have said here the current crop of politicians are of rather low calibre. They start off as volunteer assistants then get a job with their politician in the Commons and then stand themselves. Many have never have worked outside politics. I wish WWM2 and others would acknlowledge that Chris Bryant stood up in Parliament and stated that Nigel Farage had taken many thousands for appearing on Russia today. Farage has said exactly what he earned and challenged Bryant to repeat his allegations outside Parliament. Chris Bryant has refused todo so. I am a rather disappointed Tory who is not a Farage fan, but Chris Bryant tells lies in the Commons and that is fine! He could give Bojo a run for his money! Can we not accept that the.Country expects Sir Keir and the Labour Party to win the next election and we will find out whether they make difference. I think there are important changes coming. Labour will make the NHS work, solve transport problems spend money on education. It will be a brave new world after the general election. All the Labourites here will be over the moon and the Scottish brigade will have been successful in shutting down any thread about the SNP here ( sub judicial being the rather doubtful reason) However, if they lose office to Labour there will be every excuse under the sun. We live in interesting times.

Callistemon21

How rude!!

Who? What?

I find sticking "How rude" in a post, attached to nothing or no one, aggressive. But at least you know the who, what and why of it.

Would you care to explain? I'm sure we will all be very interested.

I worked in education in the Blair years and there was a lot of money around - special needs assistants, sports coaching, money for arts and drama, now teachers have to justify every photocopy, sports and music provision have been slashed and class sizes have got huge. I’m glad I’m not a teacher now.

Callistemon21

How rude!!

Sorry, but that is my opinion. I would never have said that in the past, I think that the cabinets were honourable and doing their best for the country, even though I didn’t agree with much of what they did. There are some very good Tory MPs, it’s the leadership I have the issue with. I’ve seen no evidence at all that since Johnson came into power they have the interests of the country at heart.

Maremia

Sorry if I appear to be making a crude comment here, but Joseane implied that one of the benefits of having this Tory government was that the teen pregnancy rate has come down. Yes it has, but that's because, they have discovered online, virtual, share the photos and video sex.

😲

Well, it needs less energy, I suppose.

I don't have it in front of me just now, but the most recent Mirror Newspaper poll puts dis-satisfaction about BREXIT at 86%. Democracy means listening to the majority vote, but, it also means being able to vote again on the same issue. So, how do we thing the next BREXIT vote will go?