Saturday, December 11, 2010

Saying Goodbye to Broken Promises?

Once upon a time a fresh faced Party leader called Nick Clegg spoke eloquently about “broken promises - there have been too many in the last few years; too many in the last 30 years in fact; our nation has been littered with them; a trail of broken promises ....I think it is time to do things differently ....I think it is a time for promises to be kept “ .

These are the opening lines from the Liberal Democratic Party Election broadcast 13 April 2010. Check out on Youtube before it disappears. Hat tip Tom.

Meanwhile, talking about “promises” ...."page 39 of the 'Liberal Democratic Manifesto 2010' states " We will scrap unfair fees for all students taking their first degree, including those studying part-time, saving them over £10,000 each. We have a financially responsible plan to phase fees out over six years, so that the charge is affordable even in these difficult economic times, and without cutting university income. We will immediately scrap fees for final year students” Hat tip Three Score Years and 10.

Finally the BBC reports that the new “Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has insisted that plans to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year to students in England represent a "fair and progressive solution to a very difficult problem".

Nuf said?

11 comments:

Damien McKee said...

What's your view on the fact that I would still consider voting Lib Dem tactically in some constituencies if they were better placed than Labour and I felt the Lib Dem was genuinely a good mp though I would vote for them as a person rather than their party eg. in Colchester I would vote Bob Russell but In Birmingham Edgbaston or Birmingham Selly Oak I would vote for Gisela Stuart/Steve McCabe respectively?

John Gray said...

Hi Damien

I think this is a mistake. You should always vote and work for Labour whenever and wherever. IMO.

Damien McKee said...

I agree but Bob Russell is more down to earth than Julian Ware Lane who is a snooty middle class class prat!At least Angela Smith now Baroness Smith of Basildon spoke and sounded like Basildon Woman/Essex Woman whereas Julian sounds more Islingtonian than Essex!

John Gray said...

Hi Damien

Now you are being personal. Has Julian (who I do not know)been rude about you? If not:-

Attack the politics not the person.

Damien McKee said...

I am not attacking his politics-I am a Labour supporter after all- I am attacking his snooty,patronising attitude towards those who disagree with him and dare to have socially traditional views on certain moral issues and whilst Baroness Smith may have had trendy trendy views in regards to abortion at least she didn't come across as a snooty prat towards those who disagree with her on these issues.

Damien McKee said...

I take it you know Baroness Smith of Basildon then?

John Gray said...

Hi Damien

You can attack his beliefs even if you are in the same party. What about play the ball not the player?

No, I haven't met her (I think)

Julian Ware-Lane said...

I do not recall having met Damien McKee but I clearly have left an impression on him!

I do not consider myself middle class; in fact my upbringing could be described as 'underclass' as my father was long-term unemployed. When he did work it was a a window-cleaner, market stall holder, school caretaker.

John Gray said...

Hi Julian

I hope Damien is still monitoring these comments and will have the decency to apologise to you for these remarks.

He pops up every so often and if he comments elsewhere on this blog I will remind him.

Damien McKee said...

Julian I am sorry if I upset you! I admit I let my annoyance at patronising people cloud my judgement on how to speak to you!

John Gray said...

Thank you Damien. It is for Julian to accept it (or not)