Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Laughing. I would like to believe being a Tory IS a bad thing but of course it isn't. My father in law is a Conservative as are other family members.

Attack the government, no problem. Don't go OTT. Some Labour haters I do expect to see around town with a sandwich board, CONSERVATIVE VOTER on one side and THE END OF THE WORLD IS NIGH on the other. Britain is still a great place despite it's problems, some of which have happened under Labour and Blair.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

I didn't know this. It is just a constant stream of partisan attacks on true socialists he knows nothing of.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

You mean true socialists like Tony Blair and Harriet Harman?

Graham, it must be nice to have your view of politics...you're not in my gang, so you must be in their gang...you're criticizing a Labour government, so you must be a Tory. What you can't seem to get your head around is that many people dislike and distrust this government who are not Tories, either because they're the disillusioned ex-Labour voters that Gary talks about or they're people whose views don't fall neatly along party lines.

I don't want to bore you too much with my political views, but here's a few...

I believe in scrapping tuition fees - does YOUR government?

I believe we shouldn't introduce a new generation of Trident nuclear weapons - does YOUR government?

I believe that we should never have got involved in the disastrous and wasteful (in terms of both lives and money) war in Iraq...does YOUR government?

I believe that the railways should be taken back into state ownership and subsidised to encourage more motorists to switch to rail travel...does YOUR government?

I believe that the NHS should be run for the benefit of the public, instead of being used as a cash cow by various private companies...does YOUR government?

I believe in blocking tax loopholes for the wealthy such as the one which allows rich foreign nationals to qualify as domiciled abroad, even though they live here, effectively ensuring that they pay tax on a small portion of their income...does YOUR government?

I even believe that asylum seekers who genuinely fear for their lives in their home countries should be allowed to stay here which I'm sure is enough to get me hung, drawn and quartered by many on here!

The only beliefs I can think of that have a blue tinge to them are law and order on which I will quite happily admit to being slightly to the right of Genghis Khan, a deep distrust of the EU (a distrust which is also shared by Tony Benn) and a general dislike of the whole PC-obsessed, chattering class, chic radical culture.

And, yes, Graham, I'm well aware that Britain is still a great place, as I've visited third world countries many times and I realise that we're very lucky to live in one of the most prosperous countries in the world. However, I don't see why that should stop me attacking what I perceive to be incompetence and dishonesty by the present government. If the Tories were in power, I'm sure I'd be doing the same thing to them!

And, yes, Graham I'm well aware that my views don't really add up to a coherent political philosophy, but we all have contradictions in our belief-systems. After all, you're a socialist and you support Tony Blair!

So, you see, Graham, a blue rinse wouldn't really be appropriate...perhaps more of pink hue instead? ;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Wow. The above post is about the best one I've ever read on Accy Web.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

First - apologies - I have never read your posts where you have been anything other than 'what appears' to be in bed with the 'sandwich board bridgade'. So I apologise and thanks for the above post in which I agree with Garinda, it was candid and honest and I for one am grateful. I would like to add I disagree with all of it...

... but I don't. I think you are right on most points in my view, I'd wouldn't go that far on Law & Order and I am happy with New Labour in what they have done with L&O. (please no Tories on this point - you've lost the real debate but you HAVE WON the newspaper one) And you missed off Social Housing, Reregulation of transport and so on...

The Labour Party will be here long after Tony has gone. It will be the Labour Party that members want it to be. I am disapointed that some members have left because they have given up the fight for what they believe in the face of a different Labour persuasion. The Labour Party started off as a broad coalition and unlike Conservatism always will be.

Life is full of seeming contradictions. I voted for Blair and Labour and continue to be a loyal party member because I believe a Blair government represents a better alternate, a better future chance for this country than the others. That is something completely different than wholehearted endorsement.

I also think politics is media driven. Major fixed the economy eventually, not Brown, but Major got blamed. And vice versa somewhat now. Blair is not the evil one the media agenda has him down for. When we vilify/crucify our leaders (instead of discussing honestly) we deride our country.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

but isn't that how we do things in this country? We set people up, big them up, make them believe that they can do no wrong......and when we perceive they have success...we take a pop at them. And yes you are right it IS all media driven.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Wynonie - I hope that Graham's answer also clarifys why I continue to say that I am involved with local politics and not national ones. I completely believe in the local Labour party - the national one I'm a bit iffy with. :D

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Gayle , I suppose what you are saying is a bit like a German in 38 , "I like the full employment and the new roads but I'm iffy on the jewish problem "

;) ;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Not quite!

What I'm saying is that local politics is very different to national politics and I can support the local party without being a huge fan of the current national one.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Well, thank you very much indeed for your kind words and for all the positive karma. To be quite honest, when I came back on here, I was expecting an avalanche of negative karma, but I suppose Bagpuss is still on his way back from Hartlepool. ;)

Gayle and Graham, does this outbreak of mutual understanding mean I can't argue with you anymore? Awww, life won't be the same! :D

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Oh, absolutely not Wynonie - you can always argue with me :D

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

OK, cheers, Gayle, I'll look forward to it!

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Wow I missed that yesterday had a bad night, Wynonie best post this year mate, that's what I call shooting from the hip, but I thought Ghengis Khan lived over the pond now.;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Cheers, Ian. No, Genghis still knocks around Accy. His brother, Ilyas, is a big Stanley supporter.;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Whats happened to gondola - they have suddenly gone very silent.

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

Too right your names on the list.;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

It was a very honest post and I will not give bad karma for that, whether I agree with all the points is another thing.:)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

I know, I know, I'll be watching me back on the Clayton End today! ;)

Re: Councillors in Hyndburn - Are they fit for purpose?
 

I agree with you on that point. I do not agree though that we should give them a nice council house and all the benefits until it has been decided they are genuine. While the asylum process is ongoing they should have to live in secure and safe housing within a compounded area. Not exactly a prison camp but somewhere they will be safe but can't disappear into the general population when there asylum is rejected.

Anyone who is genuinely in fear of their lives in their own Country would welcome anywhere save to live, unless of course they are not genuine.