Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

She didn't concentrate enough on society no. Would you prefer if the pits remained open at the expense of the tax payer?

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I don't know what Claytonender's response will be but mine is YES..I would prefer mines and manufacturing industries that employ masses of people to remain, even at the tax payers expense.. rather that than spend billions to sling people on unemployment and housing benifits...but then I'm not a Tory.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

I don't think that using the Thatcher argument for either side is relevant any more. Yes, we can learn by mistakes that were made in her Government, but when we're currently facing mass redundancies again, it doesn't seem right to be blaming a Government from 15 years ago (or praising it either).

I have been made redundant, 3 times as it happens, throughout my life. And in all of those instances, i actually ended up better off in the long run, so I can talk about redundancy with authority.

When in Government, and I'm sure the same applies in local politics too, there are tough decisions to be made. I'm sure all Councillors have sat in meetings and have had to vote with their head when their hearts are telling them to vote another way, or when they know what the public reaction will be.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Its just a pity the same hue and cry wasn't made of the demise of the lancashire cotton industry in the sixties, the fact is Scargill wasn't interested in the miners interests but his own communist agenda to bring down the Tory Government. Wasn't it the General secretary of the TUC who said after the miners strike Arthur went into the strike with a big union and a little house and came out the other side with a small union and a big house:rolleyes:

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Its a hard one that. If it was cheaper to keep them open than to pay all those who were made redundant then yes. I doubt anyone can quote accurate figures about what it would have cost to keep the mines open compared with the cost to close them and pay benefits afterwards.

The other argument is that we might have been more self sufficient on fuel if they had stayed open.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

That's a good point. I think that over the course of continued employment it would have cost the taxpayer an awful lot of money. As for self sufficient, the other argument is that Scargill held the nation to ransom, where as foreign imports of fuel have charged the world a lot for fuel but haven't suddenly decided to stop output.

For sustainability we need Nuclear power in my opinion. I think we're digressing more and more off the subject though. :D

As I've said in another thread, as soon as I've seen the Conservative candidates shortlist I'll post it here if it's not already on.

Tongue in cheek - there's been some movement in the market

2/1 to 6/4 Peter Clarke (dep leader from gt harwood)
3/1 to 5/2 Any outside candidate
7/2 any Female outside candidate
5/1 out to 20/1 Peter Britcliffe
11/2 to 4/1 Male Outside Candidate
8/1 out to 12/1 Marlene Haworth
8/1 out to 12/1 A Euro MPs son
10/1 into 8/1 Asian candidate from Blackburn
10/1 out to 25/1 Janet Storey
12/1 into 8/1 Tony Dobson
25/1 out to 50/1 Kevin Horkin
25/1 Brian Roberts
100/1 into 80/1 Andew B as he has not as yet ruled himself out! LOL

new market emerging... When will the Cons select
50/1 Nov
5/2 Dec
11/10 Jan
4/1 Feb
12/1 March
April is to late...

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

well the conservatives in rossendale and darwen constituency has had their candidate chosen for a couple of years but i would have thought that hyndburn would have had their candidate in situ like rossendales getting himself known to the local press and out and about in the constituency ..

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

May be they don't want to tell anyone yet. Heaven forbid it would be kept a secret!

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

They're probably "waiting for the right time to release the information"! ;)

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Around about June next year would be a good time.

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Its only a secret if they know and don't tell anyone :D

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

It stinks of conspiracy
.....move this to Anything Goes :D

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

the other argument is you are bullsh1tting, you know well the strike was about Pit Closures NOT money, so ransom is complete horse manure,n there was me thinking you'd learn as ya gained knowledge, what a pillock i am.:rolleyes: Gayle you may well have been better off fer 3 redundancies, lets hope yer not having to think on that when yer oer 50.:rolleyes:

Re: Potential Conservative Candidate for Parliament
 

Why did they want to close the pits?