I've no idea how old you are EGD, but remember when pundits said that Labour would never win again? Throughout the 1980s it was "what's wrong with Labour?" "Why can't Labour Win?"
Labour might have been disapointing and not lived up to the (massive) expectations of 1997. But, take a look at their acheivements
- introduction of national minimum wage and subsequent rise in the rate,
- investment and improvements in NHS and education - I remember being at school under the Tories - temporary classrooms that were 40 years old, with no heating and leaky roof. I spent 2 years on an NHS waiting list to have a gromet fitted to cure glue ear - my nephew had the same op a few years ago, less than 3 months from GP referal...
- SureStart - key intervention at such a crucial age for all children
- Civil Partnerships - would the Tories ever have allow such a thing!
- Peace in Northern Ireland
- Devolved government in Wales and Scotland
- Introduction of Gift Aid on Charitable giving
- Fox hunting ban
- Writing off developing world debt
- Even free entry into most museums
I doubt that any of this would have been considered if the Tories had staed in power...
In terms of a Lib Con love in - I doubt it. The Lib Dems have a real Jekyl & Hyde issue that they cannot cure - a North/South split where they compete against Labour in the North and against the Tories in the South. It will be fascinating to see who they side with if it comes to it - I suspect that they will go with Labour - as long as Brown agrees to go speedily...
Dave
I'm 28 so I don't really remember anyone saying 'Why can't Labour win?' although I am old enough to remember everyone saying they would win in 1992, right up to the point where Kinnock wandered onto the stage at Sheffield Arena.
To Labour's achievements:
Minimum wage? Great (lets put aside the argument that the minimum wage is used by many employers as a standard & not a minimum) but not if you're aged 21 or under & getting paid less wage for doing the same job as someone older. It's ageist in both directions. Young people get paid less for the same job, which is morally wrong, AND it's discourages employers from hiring older workers because they would have to pay more.
I've no experience of the NHS since before 1997 (except being born & one time when I cracked my head open) but I've not had any complaints since. So yes, I'll give Labour that one. I did however, go to school under a Tory Government & while I haven't been back since, I'd shudder to think what that school is like now.
While on education, lest we forget Labour introduced & increased tuition fees & while that wasn't the worst idea ever, it was the blanket introduction across ALL degree courses was monumentally stupid.
Also, Labour were & continue to force young people into further education whether they have the intelectual capacity to be there or not. They can't learn a trade thanks to half of Poland swanning over in 2004.
I'll give you the rest of the list except for Northern Ireland. Senator George Marshall is not in Labour & Mo Mowlam is dead, she was Old Labour.
I would probably have voted Labour in 1997, they had good ideas & big plans & good people but they never renationalised the railways; Tony Benn retired; Mo Mowlam, Robin Cook, Barbara Castle & Tony Banks are all dead and they haven't been replaced by decent people, they've been replaced by useless bastards.
I'm also convinced they'll be a Lib/Con love in as they both smell blood.