Some good points but not all.
1. Lowest inflation since the 60s
Not strictly a NL thing. Much of this is down to the previous Tory govt and world economics
2. Low interest rates
As above
3. Introduced the National Minimum Wage
4. Record police numbers in England and Wales
How many are actually out catching criminals rather than the soft targets. What happens when (if) they get to court? Released early or given a slap on the wrists
5. Cut overall crime by 35 per cent
Courtesy of the made up statistics from the ONS.
6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools
So why are employers complaining that so many kids are leaving school without basic reading and writing skills
7. Best-ever primary school results
When was the testing for this brought in?
8. Funding for every pupil in England to double (since 1997) by 2007-08
Enabling a 97% pass rate on the A level, devaluing it greatly.
9. Lowest unemployment for 29 years
Coupled with the highest levels of taxation, personal debt and people on incapacity benefit. Largely brought about by a massive explosion in unsustainable public spending to create a vast array of non jobs. (and Labour votes!)
10. Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries
11. 78,700 more nurses
Many pulled from developing countries effecting their health systems. Many part time.
12. 27,400 more doctors
See above.
13. Brought back matrons to hospital wards
To do what exactly?
14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament
But still allow them to vote on English only policies because they can't carry the vote in England and Wales. Hugely expensive
15. Devolved power to Welsh Assembly
Hugely expensive and has little real power.
16. Banned anti-personnel mines
Public opinion at the time would have got whatever party was in power to do this.
17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice at any time
Soon to be scaled down. Costly and basically a call centre telling you to go to your doctors.
18. New Deal - helped over a million people into work
Into the minimum pay jobs while the high value jobs migrate overseas.
19. Local government funding has increased by a third in real terms
But not as much as the council tax which has more than doubled.
20. Equalised the age of consent for gay men
Good if you are a gay man - not much use to anybody else.
21. Free entry to all national museums and galleries
Not all museums
22. Overseas aid budget more than doubled
Great!
23. Restored city-wide government to London
Another expensive talking shop.
24. Child benefit up 25 per cent since 1997
While which have been more than eaten away by inflation and stealth taxes
25. Created Sure Start to help children from low income households
To do what exactly. My wife worked at a sure start nusery and it was appalling.
26. Introduced the Disability Rights Commission
Talking shop. The DDA does not really have much bite.
27. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & extra £100 for over-80s
Bribe
28. The biggest rolling stock replacement programme ever seen on our
railways
Coupled with the most expensive railways in Europe
29. Negotiated the historic Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland
Half a point here. I think the Irish were also involved on this!
30. Over 30,000 more teachers in England schools
See the nurses comment - how many from overseas.
31. Implemented the Freedom of Information Act
Many govt departments still fail to divulge information.
32. All workers now have a right to 4 weeks’ paid holiday
Expensive to employers but we'll let them have this one.
33. Record rises in the state pension
Yes 75p in one year wasn't it.
34. 700,000 children lifted out of relative poverty
How? By giving their parents state handouts paid for by the rest of us?
35. Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents
And then parents forced into financial problems when the system couldn;'t cope and paid late. Then after paying late, paid the wrong amount. £2,000,000,000 overpayment per year.
36. Banned handguns
Any party would have done this on the back of the public opinion.
37. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent
By increasing incapacity benefit, expanding the public sector and hiding vast swathes in higher education studying for degrees which are often worthless, have huge dropout rates and leave them with long term debt.
38. Free nursery places for three and four-year-olds in England, Scotland and Wales
In poorly equiped nurseies
39. Free fruit for all four to six-year-olds at school
Our high taxes now provide an apple per day for a small sub set of kids.
40. Free school milk for five, six and seven-year-olds in Wales
but not England. A coup for the devolved Welsh assembalies then
41. Record police numbers in Scotland
Making 2 points out of one - good tack. Is there going to be a 'record number of police in Wales'
42. Implemented the Human Rights Act
Great. Which Mrs Blair profits from massively.
43. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since the industrial revolution
Mainly because ge don't have any industry.
44. Free TV licences for over-75s
Bribe
45. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals
But still allow the Animal Rights lot to get away with acts bordering on terrorism.
46. Halved maximum waiting times for NHS operations
By introducing an extra waiting list and fudging the figures.
47. Free local bus travel for over-60s
On the one or two busses per day.
48. Record number of students in higher education
And taking on record levels of debt to gain their media studies degree.
49. Extended the Race Relations Act so that all public bodies and functions now have a duty to promote race equality
And promote positive discrimmination.
50. Five, six and seven-year-olds in class sizes of 30 or less
My son wasn't.
1. Lowest inflation since the 60s
Not strictly a NL thing. Much of this is down to the previous Tory govt and world economics
2. Low interest rates
As above
3. Introduced the National Minimum Wage
4. Record police numbers in England and Wales
How many are actually out catching criminals rather than the soft targets. What happens when (if) they get to court? Released early or given a slap on the wrists
5. Cut overall crime by 35 per cent
Courtesy of the made up statistics from the ONS.
6. Record levels of literacy and numeracy in schools
So why are employers complaining that so many kids are leaving school without basic reading and writing skills
7. Best-ever primary school results
When was the testing for this brought in?
8. Funding for every pupil in England to double (since 1997) by 2007-08
Enabling a 97% pass rate on the A level, devaluing it greatly.
9. Lowest unemployment for 29 years
Coupled with the highest levels of taxation, personal debt and people on incapacity benefit. Largely brought about by a massive explosion in unsustainable public spending to create a vast array of non jobs. (and Labour votes!)
10. Written off up to 100 per cent of debt owed by poorest countries
11. 78,700 more nurses
Many pulled from developing countries effecting their health systems. Many part time.
12. 27,400 more doctors
See above.
13. Brought back matrons to hospital wards
To do what exactly?
14. Devolved power to the Scottish Parliament
But still allow them to vote on English only policies because they can't carry the vote in England and Wales. Hugely expensive
15. Devolved power to Welsh Assembly
Hugely expensive and has little real power.
16. Banned anti-personnel mines
Public opinion at the time would have got whatever party was in power to do this.
17. NHS Direct offering free convenient patient advice at any time
Soon to be scaled down. Costly and basically a call centre telling you to go to your doctors.
18. New Deal - helped over a million people into work
Into the minimum pay jobs while the high value jobs migrate overseas.
19. Local government funding has increased by a third in real terms
But not as much as the council tax which has more than doubled.
20. Equalised the age of consent for gay men
Good if you are a gay man - not much use to anybody else.
21. Free entry to all national museums and galleries
Not all museums
22. Overseas aid budget more than doubled
Great!
23. Restored city-wide government to London
Another expensive talking shop.
24. Child benefit up 25 per cent since 1997
While which have been more than eaten away by inflation and stealth taxes
25. Created Sure Start to help children from low income households
To do what exactly. My wife worked at a sure start nusery and it was appalling.
26. Introduced the Disability Rights Commission
Talking shop. The DDA does not really have much bite.
27. £200 winter fuel payment to pensioners & extra £100 for over-80s
Bribe
28. The biggest rolling stock replacement programme ever seen on our
railways
Coupled with the most expensive railways in Europe
29. Negotiated the historic Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland
Half a point here. I think the Irish were also involved on this!
30. Over 30,000 more teachers in England schools
See the nurses comment - how many from overseas.
31. Implemented the Freedom of Information Act
Many govt departments still fail to divulge information.
32. All workers now have a right to 4 weeks’ paid holiday
Expensive to employers but we'll let them have this one.
33. Record rises in the state pension
Yes 75p in one year wasn't it.
34. 700,000 children lifted out of relative poverty
How? By giving their parents state handouts paid for by the rest of us?
35. Introduced child tax credit giving more money to parents
And then parents forced into financial problems when the system couldn;'t cope and paid late. Then after paying late, paid the wrong amount. £2,000,000,000 overpayment per year.
36. Banned handguns
Any party would have done this on the back of the public opinion.
37. Cut long-term youth unemployment by 75 per cent
By increasing incapacity benefit, expanding the public sector and hiding vast swathes in higher education studying for degrees which are often worthless, have huge dropout rates and leave them with long term debt.
38. Free nursery places for three and four-year-olds in England, Scotland and Wales
In poorly equiped nurseies
39. Free fruit for all four to six-year-olds at school
Our high taxes now provide an apple per day for a small sub set of kids.
40. Free school milk for five, six and seven-year-olds in Wales
but not England. A coup for the devolved Welsh assembalies then
41. Record police numbers in Scotland
Making 2 points out of one - good tack. Is there going to be a 'record number of police in Wales'
42. Implemented the Human Rights Act
Great. Which Mrs Blair profits from massively.
43. Cleanest rivers, beaches, drinking water and air since the industrial revolution
Mainly because ge don't have any industry.
44. Free TV licences for over-75s
Bribe
45. Banned fur farming and the testing of cosmetics on animals
But still allow the Animal Rights lot to get away with acts bordering on terrorism.
46. Halved maximum waiting times for NHS operations
By introducing an extra waiting list and fudging the figures.
47. Free local bus travel for over-60s
On the one or two busses per day.
48. Record number of students in higher education
And taking on record levels of debt to gain their media studies degree.
49. Extended the Race Relations Act so that all public bodies and functions now have a duty to promote race equality
And promote positive discrimmination.
50. Five, six and seven-year-olds in class sizes of 30 or less
My son wasn't.
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