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Labour poll blow: Party popularity at hits new low



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Published Date: 30 May 2008
GORDON Brown's popularity among voters is the same as Sir John Major's at his lowest point and worse than Michael Foot, according to a poll today.
The poll puts Labour on 23 points – lower than during Mr Foot's reign as leader.

The YouGov poll for the Daily Telegraph puts the Conservatives on 47 –a lead of 24 points.

The paper reported that the poll – the first since Mr Brown's Crewe and Nantwich by-election drubbing – puts Labour on its lowest level of support since Gallup first asked people to declare their voting intention in 1943.

In the last month Labour has fallen three points and the Conservatives have risen three points. The Liberal Democrats are on 18 points.

When asked who would make the best Prime Minister, 39% of people polled said Tory leader David Cameron, a rise of 7% on last month. Mr Brown's rating fell 2% from April to 17%.

Only 15% of those surveyed were satisfied with Mr Brown – the same as during the worst years of the Major administration in the early 1990s.


  • YouGov surveyed 2,240 people between May 27 and 29.





The full article contains 196 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 30 May 2008 8:56 AM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Labour Party
 
1

donald,

glasgow 30/05/2008 08:59:22
I blame the SNP myself.
2

Guga II,

Rockall 30/05/2008 09:09:29
Maybe Broon, Darling and Browne had better all order their removal vans.
3

Green booger,

30/05/2008 09:37:23
When B'liar's personal approval rating was at a low, 911 and 7/7 came along, and his rating shot up. Last week Gordon 'the clown' McBean's rating was pretty low and it was about to drop even lower if the Crewe by election result was poor (as expected). On the day of the by election a mentally disturbed loner sets off a glorified firework...

It's amazing how long this non-event has remained in the headlines.

Did you know that Hitler's Reichstag was reportedly firebombed by a mentally retarded loner called Marinus van der Lubbe. Hitler used this even as an excuse to implement his Civil Contingencies Act/PATRIOT ACT (Enabling Act).

"The easiest way to gain control of a population is to carry out acts of terror. [The public] will clamor for such laws if their personal security is threatened". - Josef Stalin

4

James.com,

30/05/2008 10:14:28
The SNP should stand in the North of England; they would beat Labour on current form
5

Hearts Daft,

Tynecastle 30/05/2008 10:53:21
I really think that Labour could be wiped out in large parts of England after the next UK election, ushering in Tory Govt for decades to come. The Thatcher years look set to return with Scotland rejecting the Tory's. Independence appears to me to be the best way forward now for both nations as to remain as one state will only lead to increasing arguement and acrimony.
6

BrianHill,

Edinburgh 30/05/2008 12:00:21
I wonder if we could be looking at a reversal of the Liberal collapse in the first quarter of the 20th century when they were replaced by Labour?

As we saw with the Soviet Union or the Berlin Wall the final days can come very quickly. Like anything which is slowly toppling there comes a point where it can stand no more.

And would this Labour collapse not lead to Scottish Independence in a similarly quick fashion?
7

Pocket Dictionary,

30/05/2008 12:11:06
#6 Labour, Old and New are on their way out. Doesn't matter what rabbits Brown/Darling/Balls try to pull out the hat. Labour like the Tories @ 10 years ago WILL be wiped out.

The Tories suffered because of the Thatcher legacy and Labour will suffer because of the Blair legacy and the economic downturn. Brown might have got a couple of extra years if he had called an election when he became Prime Minister. Now he is like Bush, just biding his time until he loses the next election.

Even if Labour's Parliamentary MP's force him out, they're still on a hiding to nothing at the next election. The only question that remains is whether or not the Tories will get an outright majority or if some form of coalition will take over from this politically bankrupt Labour government.
8

lulach mac gille coemgain,

30/05/2008 12:20:05
Labour oot - Tories in - Scotland Free ! The future looks bright !
9

steve077,

30/05/2008 12:55:13
Yes ~9 - The futures bright, The futures orange!

10

Deekie fae Midstocket,

Aberdeen 30/05/2008 13:23:26
London Labour deserves everything it gets. The Tories are coming back in England and few in people here will buy the lie that voting Labour will protect Scotland from another decade or more of Conservative destruction. Quisling Labour M.P.s from Scottish constituencies should either find a safe seat in Engerlund or prepare to be swept away by the Nationalist tide. Bring it on!
11

Jock Politicaljunkie,

Glasgow 30/05/2008 13:24:04
Pocket Dictionary, at 12:11:06.

I think the Tories (the original blue ones) are on for a clear, comfortable majority come May 2010. Can't see anyone at Labour trying to topple Brown as you are correct to point out they are doomed either way. No one would want to be associated with the coming General Election failure and any future challengers will be keeping their heads down 'till Brown resigns after the defeat.

Roll on September(?) 2010 and the Referendum.

Mmmmm...now what do I want - decades of UK Tory rule with no effective opposition?
OR
An Independent Scotland under the SNP with a PR system and 3 other parties to keep things straight?
12

Sedov,

Scotland 30/05/2008 13:26:00
We are all agreed then - Labour are rubbish - so what's the alternative? The Tories? - Anyone remember what they done in their 13 years of continual power? - Mass unemployment, high inflation,the poll tax, Maggie Thatcher who said there was no such thing as society - only individuals completely our for themselves at the cost of the weaker, a bit like Hitler of course, then we now have a mad man Boris, Tory leader of london who is on the way to bringing London transport to a complete stop and whose leader, Cameron wants to to bring the old and failed policy of 'boot camps' back as his answer to a system in complete crisis. Then, of course, we have the tartan Tories, the the SNP, who are breaking promises quicker than the Hearts dictator Romonov and whose ridiculour claims that for the benefits of an independent Scotland are being laughed at all over the world. Where does that leave us? Wish I knew, i'm off to the pub.
13

karinxxx,

30/05/2008 13:27:50
Was over at the

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/

they have a poll going
14

morris,

edinburgh 30/05/2008 13:44:08
6 an 7

Much sense in what you say.
What a pity that it has to reach this stage though before Scotland discovers that she has had the winning lottery ticket for the last forty years!
We are the only bunch of cupid stunts who could have been conned out of our birthright by Westminster politicians.The Irish would never have fallen for this crud ,yet we tell ethnic jokes .WE ARE AN ETHNIC JOKE!
Scotland may indeed leave the United Kingdom because she is unwilling to be conned by a Westminster Tory government,but its okay to be ripped off by a New Labour one according to our election results. The less said about Glasgow and Strathclyde the better.
To say its embarrassing is too polite!
15

morris,

Edinburgh 30/05/2008 13:58:42
14 Well spotted Karin!
YOU HEARD THE LADY ! GO AND FILL IT IN PLEASE.


The wording is typical of the Daily Retard and designed to get a yes and its failing abysmally!It infers that the SNP have broken election promises,when anybody with a brain cell realises its a four year program,a minority administration subject to consensus politics,plus a fair whack is being squandered on a tram route which already has a bus service which is the best in the UK and bringing Edinburgh to a halt.
We have a daily reminder of why LABOUR LIBERAL and TORY are a bunch of anti Scottish muppets who are looking after their own,and will jump ship when they lose their seats on the gravy train.
16

Marian,

30/05/2008 14:20:44
Obsessed that the state knows best, Brownism can best be described by its dubious achievements: record taxation, hyper-regulation, the biggest debts in Europe, the destruction of private pension schemes, post office closures, appalling public transport and a looming energy crisis.

Decades ago the Labour Party was a focus for people with a recognisable social vision, a respect for democracy and an awareness of the humanity and true value and worth of working people. Like any human institution it was far from perfect and there was plenty of venality in evidence but it was something that we could give our hearts to.

That party has long since vanished. Cynical careerists and 'professional' politicians and managers stole it from us after John Smith's death and turned into into a monster which has stolen our civil liberties and many of democratic freedoms, taxed us but never delivered much value and involved us against our wills in immoral and illegal foreign wars.

It is a cancer. It now has to be completely excised and destroyed, cauterised, if there is ever to be any hope of a recovery here. Why on earth would anyone ever want to vote for people who are so deluded and far removed from values of freedom and democracy that they would tramp through the lobbies to vote for legislation such as the 2006 Identity Card Act? They have betrayed our birthright in the 'interests of party loyalty' - in other words they were 'just obeying orders'. These people are now the most dangerous enemies of liberal values.
17

Banana Heid,

Ayrshire 30/05/2008 15:08:51
14# I cant see the poll where is it? I can only see a stupidly pointless 1 on the news page."Is the government spending far too much money on care for drug addicts?"
18

Anthony,

Glasgow 30/05/2008 15:18:50
Labour can't sort this out because they don't seem to understand the reason behind it. They have not yet grapsed the feeling of utter betrayal working class people feel towards Labour, which is now turning into real loathing. The economy is important but it's far from being the full story - the downward polling trend started for Labour before the worst of the downturn was biting.
19

erchie,

doonbye 30/05/2008 15:22:47
i dont normally comment on these forums, prefer to read the comments.However as one of the silent majority i think one of the main reasons broon is so unpopular, apart from the complete mess labour have got us into, is because it is completely unacceptable to the people of england to have a scot as priminister.United kingdom ,no way, i normally try to keep an open mind on politics ,but i now see that there is no other way forward for scotland than to take full control of the economic levers of our country.Come the referendum (whenever that may be) il be voting yes for independence..cheers noo..
20

ThomasP,

Scotland, Aberdeen 30/05/2008 15:40:51
Sedov,Scotland

SNP, SNP , SNP, SNP.

;-)
21

JCA REID,

Annan 30/05/2008 15:56:14
At long last Labour are getting what they deserve! ( NB. I am no Tory). One of the founding tenets of the Labour party was Home Rule i.e. Independence for Scotland. They betrayed this tenet in the 1920's.
They will stick with Brown until post 2010election because there's not one of them wishing to commit political suicide & launch a leadership contest & be associated with this debacle in government - but they are in truth.
We'd all be better off getting in a buch of Swiss/German/Japanese/US Project Managers to run things.
22

democracy,

Scottish Borders 30/05/2008 16:06:15
The NEW Labour party is a thoroughly duplicitous and contrived political machine and solely exist, for the furtherance of their extremely questionable ends!

Their misleading and self-serving agendas were delivered in spite of,rather than to the benefit of the electorate and attempted to justify their existence by the adopted party mantra of "Admit nothing and deny everything" and confirms in hindsight, the so called NEW Labour, as a party of, total SPIN and zero SUBSTANCE !!!
23

Jock MacTamson 2,

Highlands 30/05/2008 16:25:30
The Local Government and The Central Government are now being run by the same idiots.

I had so much hope when Tony Blair swept into power. I had hope when Gordon Brown took over. I had always believed his to be a Political Heavyweight.

How wrong was I and I think many other people. Gordon Brown has not decision making capacity. He is not a General. He is a Generals Advisor.

I do think the comment #20 by Erchie about Gordon being Scottish is relevant. I do not blame the English for not wanting to be ruled by a foreigner. I just wish they would be able to see the Pot, Kettle and Black implications of such a notion.

I also totally support morris #15 about the Glasgow voting pattern as being totally out of step with the rest of Scotland. Any monkey as long as it is a lobour monkey. When will they learn. Look at the place and what labour and the union has done for them. Not much.
24

,

30/05/2008 16:51:30
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25

lilywhite,

borders 30/05/2008 16:52:26
Only got one thing to say about Liebours poll ratings

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

OK 2 things, who are these people still willing to vote for the most corrupt incompetent group of politicians in the history of the UK
26

,

30/05/2008 16:59:15
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27

Joe Macdelta.,

30/05/2008 17:25:26
The only thing to do now, is bury the corpse, and celebrate the passing.
28

SlyFifer,

California 30/05/2008 18:47:41
Possible answer to #13 Sedov. From this far away, Scotland seems to have only one viable political force ie the SNP with no meaningful opposition around. Everyone else being discredited.
What Scotland needs is a balance to the SNP ie another, new political party possible centre/right possibly even republican to help heal a seroiusly broken country.
I return to Scotland in September after a number of years living in California. What do I expect to find if reading these blogs are anything to go by. A country virtually turned into a police state, camera's everywhere, harrassment on the streets - blue meanies, hyper taxation, low expectations, downtrodden population horrible transportation, exhorbitent gas/petrol prices etc. Is this the reality ?.
Yes, a new political force dedicated to Scotland first and last, not for joining the EU but decalring true independance. 130 dollar oil makes it all happen. Oh and no warmongering to boot, just a small defense force for out fishermen and oil interests too.
Anyelse up for a new party ?.
29

Jimmy the Pie,

30/05/2008 18:47:52
With New Labour Sleaze and Corruption at an all time low, I see the Hootsmoan is also at an all time low. Today's Daily Mail reckons the Hootsmoan and Sunday Hootsmoan may be flogged off for a fraction of the price Johnston Press paid for them due to massive losses. DC Thompson are favourites to buy them.

Couldn't do a worse job, could they?
30

Chris83,

Newcastle upon Tyne 30/05/2008 19:34:53
Do you have to be a member of the SNP to post here? Every single thread comes down to a debate on separation. Please can the nats just give it a rest!!!!
31

ThomasP,

Scotland, Aberdeen 30/05/2008 19:55:17
Chris83,Newcastle upon Tyne

Yes all the problems are caused by the Nationalists.

Pfft. The Unionists comment and reply just as much as the rest of us.

Get over it.
32

,

30/05/2008 19:56:13
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33

,

30/05/2008 21:18:54
Comment Removed By Administrator
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34

,

30/05/2008 21:35:12
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35

,

30/05/2008 21:42:10
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36

yoric,

30/05/2008 22:23:31
There's no demand or desire in England for a Scottish Prime Minister and his entourage.

How much desire would their be in Scotland for an English PM?

Brown should go and take his bretheren with him.

Give the English and the Scots Independence.
37

Phil the Flooter,

Perth 30/05/2008 22:27:59
#53

What sad, unpleasant stereotyping .

Yes you are trying to infer something, dont imply otherwise.
38

Sanny,

Glasgow 30/05/2008 23:09:25
53 Traquir
From my font of useless information the term POME comes from the enforced emigrants (convicts) to Australia and stands for Prisoners Of Mother England.

39

morris,

edinburgh 30/05/2008 23:29:48
31

The UK of GB & NI is currently the member of the EU, and its generally agreed that all parts of the UK would retain membership irrespective of what happens within the UKs internal arrangements which are of no concern to the EU.(Thats what they said anyway as far as I am aware).


Before Scotland could cease to be a member of the EU she would have to exist as a member nation herself ,which means an independent Scotland must exist first,and removal would then be a seperate stage in this two stage process,and whether we remain within the EU or not then becomes an option.As it stands an independent Scotland would be considered to retain membership as would the rest of the former UK.

Since we must follow this two stage procedure,it makes sense for all people desiring an independent Scotland to be under a single banner,and if having achieved independence we wish to further go down this road then a party which wants this would then make some sense.
To have one now wouldbe divisive and ensure that we dont even get to stage one!
If you really want a Scotland out of the UK and the EU then its a two stage process.
There is the small matter also of those who want out of the UK but do NOT wish to leave the EU.They must be afforded the opportunity of achieving their aspirations also.This I suspect will soon be a najority of Scots.
We are facing a Labour wipe out at the General election,and what is happening now is we are waiting to see who will be the last numpties to realise LABOUR ARE FINISHED and Independence or a Tory government is the only choice we have in Scotland. What a pity if we have to elect a Tory government before the megathick Labourites get it through their skulls,LABOUR CANNOT POSSIBLY WIN.
40

Phil the Flooter,

Perth 30/05/2008 23:32:45
Traquair, I dont have a problem with the Aussies, they can say what they like, and not all of them do - but like all stereotyping it offends me..Had a look at that site , pretty unpleasant.
I just want to know why you had to quote those particular bits regarding personal hygiene when all you had to say was 'Pommie= Englishman'
41

Scotindy,

Los Angeles 30/05/2008 23:41:34
Gordon Brown and his side kick Darling are doing a wonderful job at exposing the Rape and Pillage that SCOTLAND has had to put up with from whatever unionist party is in power. Please allow them the decency of staying there until the election date, preferrably the referendum on Independence, LEST WE FORGET HOW PATHETIC THESE PEOPLE REALLY ARE. They have no love for Scotland and her people, and care only for their own self interests.Let them all begone!!!!!Beware the Conservatives are coming and there is only one party that can DEFEND SCOTLAND and that is the SNP.
42

morris,

edinburgh 30/05/2008 23:42:52
54

Whilst I fully intend to break the UK in two, I feel a bit uneasy that you think Brown being a Scot is reason to not want him! I would remove him because he is a ditherer and a hypocrite,and leads a party which has lost its soul and direction and will shortly lose office by a country mile.
Presumably you would be happy if Alastair Darling was leader since contrary to popular misconception,he is in fact a Londoner ?
Or is your hatred of Scots the major factor here?
You seem to forget that Scotland has accepted your choice of Prime Minister for 300 years and few have been Scots or Welsh.
Ditch Broon by all means,but do it because of who and what he is,not because he is a Scot!Blair was a Scot who was elected in England. Darling was an Englishman elected in Scotland.
We hated Thatcher but not because she was English! We just hated her because she was foreign to our socialist thinking.Most people in Scotland who hated Thatcher supported the United Kingdom!
Whether that was sensible or not is another matter of course.
43

Sanny,

30/05/2008 23:45:59
47 DaveSubsea
Their position in the polls is the least of Labours problems. Have a look at David Hencke’s article in the Guardian: -

www . guar

dian.co.uk/polit

ics/2008/may/29/labour

From this article it would seem that the labour party will have insufficient cash to put up any candidates let alone fund a campaign for the next General Election. Given this situation, should there be a referendum on Independence how will they fund a campaign against?

44

Conan the Librarian™,

30/05/2008 23:54:53
62
morris
Thatcher propagated an ancient Chinese method of rule.
Several provinces, all suffering famine.What do you do?
Take all the rice out of one province to feed the others.They will be happy and not rebel.
In the province where the rice was taken from, there will be nobody left to rebel...

Translate that to tory votes, and Scotland.
45

,

31/05/2008 00:16:29
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46

,

31/05/2008 00:16:46
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47

morris,

edinburgh 31/05/2008 00:18:31
63

Every branch of the Labour Party will have funds which could be called upon presumably. One does have to ask though,where have the millions which the Trade Unions contribute into Labours treasure chest gone? They spend money on a scale which makes other parties look like amateurs,but they dont seem to have anything to show for it ,which could account for its disappearance?
Perhaps its not only the raising of money which requires close scrutiny!
48

morris,

edinburgh 31/05/2008 00:44:18
66

It certainly does!
The vote was heavily supporting the SNPs position despite the question assuming that the SNP had broken promises,and made no attempt to allow the particiapnts to be the judge of this.Clearly the purpose of the poll was never to ascertain the peoples view but to influence what we think! It failed abysmally with even the Daily Retard faithful showing some common sense.

SCOTLAND 1 DAILY RETARD 0.
49

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 00:47:34
So all the snp drones cheer because the conservative and 'Unionist' party is making a massive comeback. and are totally committed to keeping a United Kingdom.

This helps the cause (forlorn) for Scottish independence ? scratch me noggin on that one Duh!

#67

200 responders..very accurate result there then
50

Conan the Librarian™,

31/05/2008 00:59:14
70
Ah Niko...
I don't think I'm a drone.

And the Conservative and Unionist Party is making headway... in England.
51

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 01:04:44
#71 conan

Your drawing a boundary which the Tory's will completely ignore if they gain power.........unionist style. Just remember westminster owns everything own Westminster own Scotland.

Never trust a conservative unionist oh no!
52

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 01:08:44
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/may/31/food.gordonbrown


Brown to intervene to combat high prices and shortages

"security to ride out a global shortage of food, water, soaring oil prices and the effects of climate change"

"if necessary for years if necessary alone"

very churchillian
53

Conan the Librarian™,

31/05/2008 01:10:53
72
Niko
Methinks we were the same people in the seventies.
However this is the 21st century.
An enough is enough.
If you are still any sort of socialist, are you STILL going to vote Labour!?
54

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 01:19:50
#74

I dunno anymore..were are all the socialists gone.......anyway up the wooden hill for me night night..

"all that is solid melts into air"
55

Conan the Librarian™,

31/05/2008 01:26:52
Baudelaire? Jeez Niko, it's the middle of the f@cking night.
Tomorrow and tomorrow...
56

FedUpTaxPayer,

Edinburgh 31/05/2008 08:12:05
You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time...

Labour have been found out. They are a failure. I don't think many people will have benefited from their tenure. Brown seems to have no vision and no solutions to the current economic situation, a situation he has personally made worse with his disasterous economic decisions on tax (constant increases), tax credits (should be taking people out of tax entirely, not giving it back in an inefficient, complex, wasteful manner), pension raid (who in the private sector has any faith in pensions now), and so on.

The sooner they are gone the better, in my view.
57

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 09:31:40
#81

I dont know about that nobody questions the reliance on the capitalist system.
58

Nikostratos,

31/05/2008 09:35:43
See old Gordon he is 'Record Breaker'
59

Niall,

Cairnbulg Aberdeenshire 31/05/2008 16:13:49
You ask why Neu Liebour have become increasingly unpopular and unelectable? Read on

The driving force behind the formation of the European superstate is big business who want a large free open market place with no frontiers, a single currency and the ability to manipulate the market without regard to the social consequences.

One of their greatest coups was the takeover of UK Government policy when Neu Liebour were elected in May 1997. The new prime minister Tony Blair and his chancellor Gordon Brown both immediately repudiated the socialist system of ethics which all previous Labour governments had embraced before surrendering to the forces of the free market.

Indeed they went far further than any previous 20th century administration in forging an alliance with big business. With the result a small group of super-rich business people have effectively dictated large tracts of government policy.

Corporate buccaneers were allowed access to Blair’s Downing Street and Gordon Brown’s Treasury in a way that was entirely new. Nothing like it had occurred even under Margaret Thatcher or even John Major.

In return for comparatively tiny financial contributions to the Labour Party these businessmen and entrepreneurs received what amounted to a general exemption from the obligation to pay taxation. The effect of this decision has been the creation of private wealth on a scale that has not been seen since before World War One and probably not even at the height of the then British Empire.

New Labour’s decision to cultivate the super-rich – a class which is now slavishly repaying Tony Blair in kind as he jets first class round the world from boardroom to corporate jamboree to lucrative speaking engagements,– has been at a terrible cost to the poorest citizens of the UK.

The biggest losers have been the ordinary, middle class people who benefited from the restrained shareholder capitalism which flourished in Britain from the end of World War Two. This capital
60

Niall,

Fraserburgh 31/05/2008 16:17:07
Due to the lack of space truncating posts, here is part 2.

The biggest losers have been the ordinary, middle class people who benefited from the restrained shareholder capitalism which flourished in Britain from the end of World War Two. This capitalism was based around large, accountable public companies such as for example ICI, British Telecommunications, BOAC, BEA, Marks and Spencer, The major banks and so forth. By the late twentieth century these were no longer owned by private individual shareholdings but overwhelmingly by large and seemingly impregnable pension funds who had bought out most of the individual shareholders.

The senior management in these companies were paid generously (perhaps quarter of a million a year) but not lavishly. The real beneficiaries from the profits made by these large public companies were not private individuals but members of the large final salary schemes which guaranteed security in retirement to millions upon millions of ordinary employees.

These large corporations were socially responsible and financially conservative. Above all they were strongly biassed towards financing investment through equity rather than borrowing – a prudent approach which helped guarantee long term survival at the expense of short term profit.

The fiscal changes introduced by Gordon Brown in his early budgets destroyed this relatively benign system of shareholder capitalism. Acting on the self interested advice of a small group of corporate raiders from the private equity industry, Chancellor Gordon Brown systematically put in place the conditions for the birth of a novel and highly destructive kind of finance.

This structure was based on debt rather than equity. It was designed to create giant private fortunes rather than the even distribution of wealth. Brown’s changes actively disadvantaged the prudent and careful public companies and mutual association companies that preferred equity to debt finance.

Within a short space of time
61

Niall,

Fraserburgh 31/05/2008 16:19:07
Part 3 follows:

Within a short space of time it had completely destroyed the British pension funds that were until 1997 the envy of the world. Over £60 Billions have been syphoned off from the pension funds of ordinary hard working people leaving them a pittance to live on in their old age. Prior to 1997 I could expect a pension of £20,000 per annum on retirement at 65 now all I will get for a lifetime of hard work and thrift is a paltry £5,200 pa (£4,160 after tax) which is less than the old age pension. How much will that be worth when rampant inflation hits us when the looming recession arrives?

I firmly maintain that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s New Labour government have hollowed out and corrupted our government, unthinkingly destroyed and created a barbarous economic and social structure for which we the ordinary taxpayers will pick up the tab when the recession begins to bite at the end of this year. Northern Rock is a case in point.

New Labour’s structure is not merely unethical, however. It is also desperately corrupt and unstable. The shameful surrender by the state to an untrammelled capitalist class has destroyed large parts of the public domain and created genuine conditions for a crisis in capitalism in the months and years ahead.

The most important of these is an explosion of public and private debt. Numerous public assets – ranging from hospitals and schools to great businesses – can only survive through huge debt repayments. This kind of financing works in boom times but is destined to fail when an economy turns sour, as ours is starting to do.

The second has been the destruction of large parts of the public domain through ‘Privatisation’ and the creation of a tiny class of super-rich at the direct expense of a broad mass of the ordinary people. As a result many of the institutional protections against social and political instability have vanished. we blindly stumble deeper and deeper into an economic, political and moral minefield.
62

Niall,

Fraserburgh 31/05/2008 16:20:53
THe final part:
This is best illustrated by a throw away remark by a Neu Liebour minister:

Having a professional interest in the budget, I watched the whole TV coverage of the event whilst on Dialysis and was frankly appalled at the ineffable incompetence demonstrated by the Labour Government and in particular by the Chancellor Alasdair Darling and the supreme arrogance of Ed Balls the Schools Minister who when Mr Cameron the leader of the opposition was savaging the budget with the words “We have the highest tax burden in our history” [TRUE] Ed Balls was leading the heckling and I distinctly heard him yell loudly in a sneering tone of voice “SO WHAT!”

Mr Cameron picked him up on that immediately and rounded on him furiously “So What say’s the Minister for Children.” “SO WHAT!” Typifies the supreme arrogance of the corrupt Labour party in power. Spoken by a minister on £250,000 a year who does not give a damn about the poorest and disadvantaged in our society who lost £198 per year with the scrapping of the 10p tax band.

Far from representing the underprivileged, Neu Liebour have become the party of privilege and wealth thus alienating themselves from their social roots. What do our resident Unionists have to say about what I have said?

'S Mise le meas
Niall Ban.
63

FedUpTaxPayer,

Edinburgh 31/05/2008 16:47:45
Interesting article Niall. I agree with some of it (pensions destruction for example) though I'm less sure of them being the party of privilege and wealth. To be honest I'm not sure who they represent, and what's worse, I'm not sure they do.

I'm curious why you're interested in Unionist comments on this? It's a major criticism of the Labour party, a party I despise for a number of the reasons you mention, plus some others, but not sure the unionist slant.

I'm probably a unionist, or more generally, I've not heard a convincing case for independence. I think the moral of your story should be don't vote Labour. If your thought is don't vote Labour, vote independence, than it might be worth remembering that Scotland has a tradition of generally voting in Labour... Imagine this bunch, or equivalent, in charge of an independent Scotland...

Still, I trust we can agree on Gordon Brown being awful :-)
64

Commited to Independence,

Scotland 31/05/2008 21:24:01
80 AM2

The population of the UK is about 2.1 trillion in personal debt.
The population of the UK has a higher tax burden than any other population in the world
UK house prices are higher here than anywhere else in the world.
The cost of buying a car is higher here than anywhere else in the world.
The cost of travelling is higher here than anywhere else in the world be it by air land or sea.
Our Government is above the law and untouchable.
Unemployment figures are false as the only data given is based on those claiming unemployment benefit not those out of work.

That is the reality people have to live with in this country and measurements such as GDP are meaningless to your average person struggling under a massive debt and tax burden.
You frequently post government figures stats and data knowing full well the sourse is corrupt and unreliable and has been proven false time and time again.
65

Commited to Independence,

Scotland 31/05/2008 21:25:13
Nice post Niall and bang on the money.
66

Commited to Independence,

Scotland 31/05/2008 21:27:02
81

Are you looking forward to a Tory government in power then? and do you honestly think it will be any different?
67

FedUpTaxPayer,

Edinburgh 01/06/2008 01:27:57
#91 Yes, I hope there will be, and I certainly hope it will be different. It had better be, I don't want more of the same.

I'm hoping for less waste and more efficiency in the money government spends. Less sleaze. I'd like less tax taken - more money in your own hand, less in big government. I'd like green issues given a more important stand. I'd like benefits increased and taxes reduced for those at the poorer end, however I'd like 'wasters' - those not really looking for a job or those claiming incapacity benefit fraudulently having their benefits withdrawn. People who are able to work should work...

I think the conservatives are the party most likely to deliver (most of) these things. Labour, to my mind at least, have squandered the opportunities of the last 10 years.

 

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