Q3: How are you going to deal with Banking Bonuses?
Cameron - Have a banking levy, get the banks lending again esp. cosying to small businesses. Retail banks need to be reigned in from the most ricky bets ('we agree with Obama'). Labour have been up with the banks for 13 years - they won't do much to help it! We want to change things, bring the Bank of England back in charge of things. Attacks Clegg's EU policy esp. on the Euro.
Clegg - no bonuses at all from any bankers at board level... we don't want the temptation to be there. No cash bonuses at all above 2.5k. Specific and tough but will root out this unacceptable behaviour. Both Tories & labour have been far too focussed on the City of London and we need to break that stronghold. We need to break up the banks to protect ourselves from the banks ever doing this to us again.
Brown - we bailed out Northern Rock, helped Halifax, Lloyds TSB etc. We need to restructure the banks totally, recapitalise the banks. We will never allow them to act in an unfair way again. We need a levy in line with the international levels. We have already taxed the bonuses.
Comment: It's getting feisty! All are angry at the banks, and the debate is focussed around what Labour has already done, and what we should be doing next. Govt owns shares for most of the banks, and will continue to fight for a global levy so that banks won't leave the country. Cameron and Clegg are firm in saying we need a banking levy now, so that we can get our money back. It seems rather convoluted.
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Election debate 2
Q2: Tax is taking more & more from pay slips - what are you going to do about it?
Brown - we are going to provide tax credits. Brought down basic rate of tax & raise top rate of tax - "so that's fair." Surprisingly he doesn't agree with the Conservatives policies on this. No-one earning under 20k will pay the NI tax rise. The biggest beneficiary of the tax policies in the Tory manifesto are the richest 1%.
Cameron - questioner is right - govt is spending far too much of your money. It is not possible to make tax break promises, because of the economic situation - but lets stop the NI tax. Also, the tax credits will stay under our govt. "If you earn 20k, according to Gordon Brown you are rich" - interesting interpretation!
Clegg - our tax system is unfair. After 13 years of Labour we have a clearly unbalanced system. We will switch the system and so make it fair - you will pay no income tax on anything under 10k. Taxes are unfair on ordinary people! So we are going to change it. We need to help those who are poorest in our society to stand up for themselves and get off benefits.
Comment: All agree on tax credits. But they should not go too far up the income scale, say Cam & Clegg. Brown swings one at the Tories saying he will never enter an alliance with them. Cameron keep going on about Labour mistakes - enough already! Surely we need to move away from blaming and towards solutions - and Clegg seems to have them!
Brown - we are going to provide tax credits. Brought down basic rate of tax & raise top rate of tax - "so that's fair." Surprisingly he doesn't agree with the Conservatives policies on this. No-one earning under 20k will pay the NI tax rise. The biggest beneficiary of the tax policies in the Tory manifesto are the richest 1%.
Cameron - questioner is right - govt is spending far too much of your money. It is not possible to make tax break promises, because of the economic situation - but lets stop the NI tax. Also, the tax credits will stay under our govt. "If you earn 20k, according to Gordon Brown you are rich" - interesting interpretation!
Clegg - our tax system is unfair. After 13 years of Labour we have a clearly unbalanced system. We will switch the system and so make it fair - you will pay no income tax on anything under 10k. Taxes are unfair on ordinary people! So we are going to change it. We need to help those who are poorest in our society to stand up for themselves and get off benefits.
Comment: All agree on tax credits. But they should not go too far up the income scale, say Cam & Clegg. Brown swings one at the Tories saying he will never enter an alliance with them. Cameron keep going on about Labour mistakes - enough already! Surely we need to move away from blaming and towards solutions - and Clegg seems to have them!
Election debate 1
Here we go again! This time it's the economy... hold onto your seats brothers and sisters.
Q1: There are going to be spending cuts - why don't you be honest and tell us?
Clegg - we specify the savings we are going to make in our manifesto. What we can't do is say that just efficiency savings are enough.. they aint.
Brown - 4 year deficit reduction plan, starts in 2011, includes N.I. rising and some cutting (public sector pay and pensions). If we fail to support the economy this year it'll go bad.
Cameron - we were the first to say there will need to be cuts. We will save schools, NHS etc. We are going to freeze public sector pay. People will have to retire later starting 2016. But to stop the jobs tax, we'll make efficiency savings.
Comment: They are all basically dodging the question. Lib Dems seem to be more honest in this regard (honesty is the best policy from Clegg is playing very well). Brown and Cameron are simply telling us what they won't cut - this doesn't cut the mustard. Simple as. The responses are simply going over the same material - it seems to be a choice between so called efficiency cuts now, or a NI tax rise next year, or the Liberal Democrats (who don't seem to be saying much about this specific argument because they are proposing a much more radical tax system as well as more stringent efficiency savings).
Q1: There are going to be spending cuts - why don't you be honest and tell us?
Clegg - we specify the savings we are going to make in our manifesto. What we can't do is say that just efficiency savings are enough.. they aint.
Brown - 4 year deficit reduction plan, starts in 2011, includes N.I. rising and some cutting (public sector pay and pensions). If we fail to support the economy this year it'll go bad.
Cameron - we were the first to say there will need to be cuts. We will save schools, NHS etc. We are going to freeze public sector pay. People will have to retire later starting 2016. But to stop the jobs tax, we'll make efficiency savings.
Comment: They are all basically dodging the question. Lib Dems seem to be more honest in this regard (honesty is the best policy from Clegg is playing very well). Brown and Cameron are simply telling us what they won't cut - this doesn't cut the mustard. Simple as. The responses are simply going over the same material - it seems to be a choice between so called efficiency cuts now, or a NI tax rise next year, or the Liberal Democrats (who don't seem to be saying much about this specific argument because they are proposing a much more radical tax system as well as more stringent efficiency savings).
Tuesday, 27 April 2010
A Quick Note on Electoral Reform & a Hung Parliament
We have been hearing in the media plenty about changing the face of politics in this country - the claim, a rightful one when taken in its entirety and with viewed with spectacles that can see forward 50-100 years and not ones that can only see a vision that last until 7 May, comes from the recent debacle we have been put through with the MP's expenses scandal combined with the knowledge that this is only the tip of the iceberg - an iceberg so big it is able to cut the whole of Britain in two, let alone the titanic.
We lack at the moment in our Parliament any sort of proper debate due to the way in which our electoral system favours massive majorities that do not represent the actual views of a more politically divided populous, and as such I do believe that the House of Lords has done a good (not complete, nor easy, nor always consistent with my own views) job in keeping the government in check - because the House of Commons poses no real threat to the government of the day so long as they can hold the allegiance of their MP's (something not always to be taken for granted!). We have needed the House of Lords, with it's current make-up of Lords Spiritual (who sit in the Lords due to their ecclesial offices) and Lords Temporal (majority of Lords, partisan, including some hereditary), to keep a check on the government of the day.
There has been over the past 13 years of Labour a (semi) commitment to reforming the Lords, and we see this policy being taken up as a major policy by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the current election campaign - as part of a wider political reform that includes electoral reform of the House of Commons too.
I am very worried by the proposal of an all elected House of Lords that has been emanating from Labour and Lib Dem camps. The House of Lords provides our parliamentary process with two very important things: it provides a chance for experts in various areas of public life to both examine legislation prospectively and to hold the government of the day to account, something I would not want to entrust to most of the elected MP's currently sitting in the Commons. How would having an elected Lords help in these two very important roles when the Lords would have to campaign for election and be embroiled in people pleasing in order to maintain their roles? I fear we would lose the quality we now have in favour of reforming the less problematic House of Parliament, I fear this is an attempt to divert attention away from true House of Commons reform.
Instead we need to think through reforming the electoral system of the Commons that is simply not working and is leading to disillusionment with our political system. Thankfully both Labour and the Lib Dems are talking about this too - and hopefully we will see a delivery of promises should either of these get into government on 6 May. The Conservatives, however, oppose reform of electoral system.
More debate needs to be taking place on this issue - and the wider one of constitutional reform - for it is going ahead according to partisan purposes and going mostly unnoticed to most of the wider public. For a specific Christian perspective on this click here for NT Wright's speech in Parliament. Very worthwhile the half an hour of your life it takes to read it.
A final (perhaps remarkably preposterous) thought on the potential of a Hung Parliament and why the British public don't take the warnings of the Party Leaders seriously on this issue: is it perhaps as a small piece of revenge to the chaos and corruption that the politicians have put the public through over the past few years? Maybe that's just a touch too cynical, but it certainly seems that the more the authorities say that a Hung Parliament will be disastrous for Britain, the more likely it appears to be heading that way.
Also, check in again on Thursday evening for more 'live-blogging' of the last election debate which will be live on BBC1 at 8.30pm.
We lack at the moment in our Parliament any sort of proper debate due to the way in which our electoral system favours massive majorities that do not represent the actual views of a more politically divided populous, and as such I do believe that the House of Lords has done a good (not complete, nor easy, nor always consistent with my own views) job in keeping the government in check - because the House of Commons poses no real threat to the government of the day so long as they can hold the allegiance of their MP's (something not always to be taken for granted!). We have needed the House of Lords, with it's current make-up of Lords Spiritual (who sit in the Lords due to their ecclesial offices) and Lords Temporal (majority of Lords, partisan, including some hereditary), to keep a check on the government of the day.
There has been over the past 13 years of Labour a (semi) commitment to reforming the Lords, and we see this policy being taken up as a major policy by both Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the current election campaign - as part of a wider political reform that includes electoral reform of the House of Commons too.
I am very worried by the proposal of an all elected House of Lords that has been emanating from Labour and Lib Dem camps. The House of Lords provides our parliamentary process with two very important things: it provides a chance for experts in various areas of public life to both examine legislation prospectively and to hold the government of the day to account, something I would not want to entrust to most of the elected MP's currently sitting in the Commons. How would having an elected Lords help in these two very important roles when the Lords would have to campaign for election and be embroiled in people pleasing in order to maintain their roles? I fear we would lose the quality we now have in favour of reforming the less problematic House of Parliament, I fear this is an attempt to divert attention away from true House of Commons reform.
Instead we need to think through reforming the electoral system of the Commons that is simply not working and is leading to disillusionment with our political system. Thankfully both Labour and the Lib Dems are talking about this too - and hopefully we will see a delivery of promises should either of these get into government on 6 May. The Conservatives, however, oppose reform of electoral system.
More debate needs to be taking place on this issue - and the wider one of constitutional reform - for it is going ahead according to partisan purposes and going mostly unnoticed to most of the wider public. For a specific Christian perspective on this click here for NT Wright's speech in Parliament. Very worthwhile the half an hour of your life it takes to read it.
A final (perhaps remarkably preposterous) thought on the potential of a Hung Parliament and why the British public don't take the warnings of the Party Leaders seriously on this issue: is it perhaps as a small piece of revenge to the chaos and corruption that the politicians have put the public through over the past few years? Maybe that's just a touch too cynical, but it certainly seems that the more the authorities say that a Hung Parliament will be disastrous for Britain, the more likely it appears to be heading that way.
Also, check in again on Thursday evening for more 'live-blogging' of the last election debate which will be live on BBC1 at 8.30pm.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Friday, 23 April 2010
Happy St. George's Day.
Jerusalem
And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.
-- William Blake
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Election debate - Closing Opinion
Well, a whirlwind 90 minutes from out 3 leaders again tonight. Who came out on top? Perhaps surprisingly the YouGov/Sun instant poll said it was Cameron on 36%, followed by Clegg on 32% and Brown on 29%.
Giant leap for Brown and Cameron, and a bit of a fall from Clegg compared to last week. But is this a true reflection? I'm not so sure. Here's my opinion on the three leaders:
Brown - did much better than last week. Still seemed intent on defending his own policies and attacking the other candidates policies then diagnosing and proposing as the other two did.... perhaps the curse of being the incumbent, but he isn't really using his position very well. He kept defining himself by negatively defining Cameron and Clegg as anti-Europe and anti-USA respectively, not the best way to define yourself, Gordon. Also, he will most likely come to regret saying that he never authorised the leaflets that caused Cameron to call him a liar should it come out that he did authorise them, and that might be the end of his campaign if so. Shocking policy on House of Lords - simply cosying up to Lib Dems. Positively, he is still the only one, in my opinion, who speaks with the authority of a national leader.
Cameron - Again, did much better than last week. He seemed more assured about how to deal with a TV debate. However, he nearly lost his temper at one point, and this could reflect badly. Got one over on Brown by calling him a liar and bringing a potentially disastrous denial from Brown. Lost all ground on the environment question because of his use of a private jet to get about the country - actions still speak just as loud, if not louder, than word... especially with our politicians.
Clegg - Just as good as he was last week, but this week he had to face far more probing and attacking from both Brown and Cameron on Lib Dem policy due to the fact that he no longer holds the element of surprise. Dealt with the potential red herring from the Sky presenter on stories in the papers today with ease and wit. Clegg appeared again to position himself in the 'new politics' camp, making sure everyone knew he has had nothing to do with the last two decades of 'bad' politics. Beaten back by both Cameron and Brown on Trident - but surely the issue is worth a proper debate at the least? As much as Clegg is increasingly turning into a very good politician and rhetorician, I remain totally unconvinced that Lib Dem policies are any good at all.
Finally, all three were of no surprise on the issue of the Pope's visit and Catholic ethics & theology... each using the platform to announce themselves as tolerant, multi-faith welcoming, multi-cultural loving, right-to-choose-own-path defending, liberally minded politicians. This high view of humanity is where we are going wrong in the West... none of these leaders will helps us here. Let's get on our knees.
Giant leap for Brown and Cameron, and a bit of a fall from Clegg compared to last week. But is this a true reflection? I'm not so sure. Here's my opinion on the three leaders:
Brown - did much better than last week. Still seemed intent on defending his own policies and attacking the other candidates policies then diagnosing and proposing as the other two did.... perhaps the curse of being the incumbent, but he isn't really using his position very well. He kept defining himself by negatively defining Cameron and Clegg as anti-Europe and anti-USA respectively, not the best way to define yourself, Gordon. Also, he will most likely come to regret saying that he never authorised the leaflets that caused Cameron to call him a liar should it come out that he did authorise them, and that might be the end of his campaign if so. Shocking policy on House of Lords - simply cosying up to Lib Dems. Positively, he is still the only one, in my opinion, who speaks with the authority of a national leader.
Cameron - Again, did much better than last week. He seemed more assured about how to deal with a TV debate. However, he nearly lost his temper at one point, and this could reflect badly. Got one over on Brown by calling him a liar and bringing a potentially disastrous denial from Brown. Lost all ground on the environment question because of his use of a private jet to get about the country - actions still speak just as loud, if not louder, than word... especially with our politicians.
Clegg - Just as good as he was last week, but this week he had to face far more probing and attacking from both Brown and Cameron on Lib Dem policy due to the fact that he no longer holds the element of surprise. Dealt with the potential red herring from the Sky presenter on stories in the papers today with ease and wit. Clegg appeared again to position himself in the 'new politics' camp, making sure everyone knew he has had nothing to do with the last two decades of 'bad' politics. Beaten back by both Cameron and Brown on Trident - but surely the issue is worth a proper debate at the least? As much as Clegg is increasingly turning into a very good politician and rhetorician, I remain totally unconvinced that Lib Dem policies are any good at all.
Finally, all three were of no surprise on the issue of the Pope's visit and Catholic ethics & theology... each using the platform to announce themselves as tolerant, multi-faith welcoming, multi-cultural loving, right-to-choose-own-path defending, liberally minded politicians. This high view of humanity is where we are going wrong in the West... none of these leaders will helps us here. Let's get on our knees.
Election debate 9
Final Comments:
Brown: Will take responsibility for the decisions that need to be made. He will make sure our army are well equipped, that our economy will continue to recover... appeals to voters to not put the economy at risk as Cameron would do, and not to leave us isolated as Clegg would do.
Cameron: Claims that Brown sounds desperate. Vote for us means you get a fresh team... not an old team. Family comes first for Cam, we face difficult times but we will lead you into the big society we all want to live in.
Clegg: We can be a force for good in the world, leading it not just complaining about it. On all the issues we spoke about tonight can be done differently, we can change and move forward. Appeals for us to not be scared into voting Labour or Tory... we don't need old politics, but we can move forward.
Brown: Will take responsibility for the decisions that need to be made. He will make sure our army are well equipped, that our economy will continue to recover... appeals to voters to not put the economy at risk as Cameron would do, and not to leave us isolated as Clegg would do.
Cameron: Claims that Brown sounds desperate. Vote for us means you get a fresh team... not an old team. Family comes first for Cam, we face difficult times but we will lead you into the big society we all want to live in.
Clegg: We can be a force for good in the world, leading it not just complaining about it. On all the issues we spoke about tonight can be done differently, we can change and move forward. Appeals for us to not be scared into voting Labour or Tory... we don't need old politics, but we can move forward.
Election debate 8
Q8: What new measure will you introduce to make immigration fairer?
Clegg: Border police, directing people where there is space to live, have an exit policy, and getting the illegal immigrants into the clear.
Brown: Condemns Cleggs idea on getting the illegal immigrants out from the shadows of UK. Points system now introduced to reduce the immigrants.
Cameron: We should be warm and welcoming to immigrants because we have benefitted from it. We need to being it down, however, because it's too high - so have a cap. We need controls on new EU countries.
Comment: All seems very insistent on the need to limit immigration - ironic that the question came from an immigrant? I wonder what she is thinking... the answers seem to be directed to us white British sitting at sofa's all around the country. Brown quite insistent that Clegg's ideas will lead to an immigrant amnesty, and therefore more will turn up on our shores. Increasingly turning into last weeks debate. Same issues, same questions, same answers.... will we get any action after May 6? Yet to be seen.......
Clegg: Border police, directing people where there is space to live, have an exit policy, and getting the illegal immigrants into the clear.
Brown: Condemns Cleggs idea on getting the illegal immigrants out from the shadows of UK. Points system now introduced to reduce the immigrants.
Cameron: We should be warm and welcoming to immigrants because we have benefitted from it. We need to being it down, however, because it's too high - so have a cap. We need controls on new EU countries.
Comment: All seems very insistent on the need to limit immigration - ironic that the question came from an immigrant? I wonder what she is thinking... the answers seem to be directed to us white British sitting at sofa's all around the country. Brown quite insistent that Clegg's ideas will lead to an immigrant amnesty, and therefore more will turn up on our shores. Increasingly turning into last weeks debate. Same issues, same questions, same answers.... will we get any action after May 6? Yet to be seen.......
Election debate 7
Q7: Is a coalition government the best way forward for Britain?
Cameron: Whilst cross party cooperation is good, it's not that good!
Clegg: Irrespective of outcome we must work together, especially in terms of the economy... we should work together, and we should not believe that political armageddon will take place if we have a hung parliament.
Brown: We don't have agreement on the way forward on the economic problems. Pubic must decide who should lead us.
Comment: Brown did not answer the question at all... Economy takes over this question. Clegg appears to be gaining headway again because he answers the question and positions himself as the 'better' way into the 'new politics'. Brown is being defensive about his economic policies... Cameron is still harping on about the jobs tax... Brown is doing a lot of accusing, not really getting him anywhere. We're back into many of the same issues as last weeks debate here... and I imagine we'll get more of the same next week too...
Cameron: Whilst cross party cooperation is good, it's not that good!
Clegg: Irrespective of outcome we must work together, especially in terms of the economy... we should work together, and we should not believe that political armageddon will take place if we have a hung parliament.
Brown: We don't have agreement on the way forward on the economic problems. Pubic must decide who should lead us.
Comment: Brown did not answer the question at all... Economy takes over this question. Clegg appears to be gaining headway again because he answers the question and positions himself as the 'better' way into the 'new politics'. Brown is being defensive about his economic policies... Cameron is still harping on about the jobs tax... Brown is doing a lot of accusing, not really getting him anywhere. We're back into many of the same issues as last weeks debate here... and I imagine we'll get more of the same next week too...
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