If I were Prime Minister....

[zathras]

Ok, if you had to list your top 5 things you would change, what would they be?

Mine:-

1. Benefit system overhaul.
2. Immigration.
3. Political correctness.
4. Taxes and public sector spending ( wasting).
5. Bring back the cane in Schools.

1. Liberties reform - as in repealing much of the anti-terrorist legislation of the last decade - starting with the Terrorism Act 2000, RIP Act, and the Civil contingencies bill

2. Taxation and Benefits Reform - Abolish tax credits and increase the lower threshold for tax, bringing more people out of tax altogether. Benefits to be returned to the Department of Social security and to be related to those who will become productive members of society where possible. Allow families who remain married to pool their tax allowances - ie allow Income Shifting.

3. Introduce zero-tolerance in petty crime - all crime to result in either fines or custody.

4. Allow Opting-out of National Insurance, such that part of the contributions go into a private investment scheme. Then supply credits to people needing to claim to spend as they will.

5. Create a closer link between the people treated and the hospital that treats them, ditto for school

6. Reduce the size of the state

[expat]

proper investment into the transport infrastructure of this country.

Indeed

Stop throwing away all the transport budget on roads and calling that "investment", when money for real transport infrastructure (like railways) is called "subsidy".

[chris79]

Realistic, I prefer. Whilst I realise that not many of the policies being advocated on here are very serious, people have clearly not given even the most cursory thought to the practicalities.

I also feel I owe a debt to my late Dad who did National Service (including getting a small promotion in his two years) and bitterly resented it. He also pointed out that for the boys who couldn't take the bullying and harsh regime, it was the end, as they killed themselves. Not really the kind of thing I want to pay my taxes towards, thanks.

As for it being a bit of time at the old folks' home - plently of good kids do this already - do you seriously think making it compulsory and trying to force the chavvy scum ones to do it is a realistic option? Actually I'm surprised Nu Labour hasn't introduced it because like most of their ideas, it punishes the majority of decent people for the sins of a few.

Yes I see your point here, but lets face the truth about things, the youth in this country today is becoming more and more out of control, lack of respect, lack of discipline. You can't just hide behind the issue or solutions forever, they in turn pass this onto their own kids, and so forth. Indirectly people die through stabbings, shootings, etc as well by NOT addressing the issue.

[miffy]

So you're going to ban petrol cans too, presumably?

And then I'm going to get petrol for my mower, chainsaw and strimmer how exactly?

I wasn't speaking literally.

You can't outlaw fuel cans because they're needed for lots of situations including emergencies. You'd just use your "cars" smartcard to dispense fuel as you would to fill up your range rover!

If you don't have a car (but run a petrol mower etc etc), you'll need a special card that needs renewing annually and dispenses say a maximum of 100 litres in a year for example. That would stop chavs and crims working the system.

[Diver]

This is the UK today

[DaveB]

Doing what?

Paid for by whom?

Not out of my taxes, thanks.

Whose taxes do you think are paying their giro's and benefits right now. If they are going to cost us money get them doing something usefull and maybe teach them some discipline, social responcibility and respect for authority.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

1. Ban sex education for children. The teaching of four year olds will only lead to further experimentation and child pregnancies.

Not teaching 'em what causes pregnancy will stop them experimenting -and the logic in that is what exactly?

2. Bring public sector pensions in line with private sector pensions to reduce the burden on the taxpayer. I read yesterday that some woman at the BBC is due for a pension of 190,000 pounds a year!!

Eh? I bet there are loads more private sector pensioners on 190k a year than public sector ones - and you ignore the wage disparity which you'd presumably adjust?

........
4. Allow people to jump the health service queue by opting to pay a high percentage of the costs of an operation. This will add extra finance to the health service while reducing costs.

Yeah - the poorest should definately wait the longest, the gits, and with any luck they might die before they get the op, thus saving even more cash. In fact, why not just kill them and eat them?

5. Politicians proven to have lied to be automatically sacked.

6. Householders cannot be taken to court for injuring burglars.

Interesting - in order to kill you, do I have to be sure you broke in, or can I just cosh you if I find you in my garden?

7. People must get a permit to have children and can only do so once married and with sufficient funds to afford to bring them up and the number allowed will be based on affordability.

Ha ha - I thought you were serious for second - State Breeding Licence? you sound like Stalin! Oh and this rather conflicts with your abolition of means-testing and the big state - hilarious!

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Many of the draconian policies being advocated (Conscription into National Service, Fuel rationing, breeding licence, more people in prison for longer etc) would actually require more civil servants and admin than we have now - yet everyone seems to agree we don't want that.

[Peoplesoft bloke]

Whose taxes do you think are paying their giro's and benefits right now. If they are going to cost us money get them doing something usefull and maybe teach them some discipline, social responcibility and respect for authority.

Mine, but you won't save a penny with that daft idea.

[BrilloPad]

8. Benefits automatically stop after 1 year for all but the seriously disabled.

I hope that includes mental disabilities? I want to qualify...