Reply to: IT giants 'ripping off Whitehall', say MPs

[rollingergrund]

People say they continued Thatcher's legacy but to me they were brutally left wing. Centralisation of everything, law creation, invasion of privacy, wars for no justifiable reason.

They largely did the opposite; decentralised lawmaking, Scotland got its own autonomous parliament (a move heavily opposed by right wing officials) greater control for Northern Ireland and Wales, the previous Conservative governments had gone to war (Argentina and Iraq)with less justification. Let us not forget the support Conservatives gave to the brutal regimes of Chile and South Africa. Local councils under Labour had less control from Westminster as did schools and hospitals. AS for invasion of privacy this was something steamrollered by the conservatives started off with the Criminal Justice bill (only the LibDems gave serious opposition though) the CCTV explosion started under the Conservatives. It was labour who made the major drive for more open government (conservatives talked about it a lot). Labour signed up to the social chapter (something conservatives flatly refused to support) which prevented a great deal of exploitation in the uk of the most vulnerable.

Traditionally right wing governments have centralised power and been intolerant. Take a look at the liberal democracies that have left wing governments and compare it with right wing governments. In the EU countries least sympathetic to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were left of centre governments, whilst those most likely to support were right of of centre governments.

[swamp]

It is not the giants ripping them off.

It is a reluctance with government for someone to take control and be responsible (this attitude is not restrcited to government btw).

And so all that happens is you get spiralling consultancy costs because everything needs to be verified by a consultant - who will ensure that no matter what he or she says there will also be no come back on the company for providing bad info

If the relevant people manned up and grew a pair you could cut costs in half

well I reckon anyway

Sounds about right.

They are terrified of taking anything on by themselves. Nobody ever has enough power or influence to take the bold decisions that are required. The Conservatives may make this easier -- much less central control -- but the current spotlight on spending will prevent public sector departments from making the investment in skills they need.

On the other hand, an organisation could easily find itself saddled with a hundreds of useless IT workers and a big pension liability.

Overall I believe it will be good news for independent contractors.

[original PM]

It is not the giants ripping them off.

It is a reluctance with government for someone to take control and be responsible (this attitude is not restrcited to government btw).

And so all that happens is you get spiralling consultancy costs because everything needs to be verified by a consultant - who will ensure that no matter what he or she says there will also be no come back on the company for providing bad info

If the relevant people manned up and grew a pair you could cut costs in half

well I reckon anyway

[minestrone]

Was Tony Blair and Nu Labour left wing?

Some of Nu Labour actually admitted the party was in the centre on purpose.

The poor were also paid to keep them quiet.

People say they continued Thatcher's legacy but to me they were brutally left wing. Centralisation of everything, law creation, invasion of privacy, wars for no justifiable reason.

[SueEllen]

Being anti Thatcher is deemed to be a sign that "right on" leftie liberals are at "one" with poor people. Its great because it does'nt cost them anything and makes them feel better about themselves. Understandable if you were a miner or print worker in the 70s to hate her, but what I cannot abide are these affluent hypocrites who have gained so much personal wealth thanks to her freeing the economy from the trade unions and socialists.

Was Tony Blair and Nu Labour left wing?

Some of Nu Labour actually admitted the party was in the centre on purpose.

The poor were also paid to keep them quiet.

[Doggy Styles]

Bragg is a complete and utterly worthless c***.

Ben Elton's a c*** as well but at least he wrote some funny TV programs.

[minestrone]

Has Bragg been done for not paying his taxes or did he eventually get his acountant to fill in his self assesment form and send off the cheque?

[shaunbhoy]

what I cannot abide are these affluent hypocrites who have gained so much personal wealth thanks to her freeing the economy from the trade unions and socialists.

Right on DA!!!

[Pondlife]

Being anti Thatcher is deemed to be a sign that "right on" leftie liberals are at "one" with poor people. Its great because it does'nt cost them anything and makes them feel better about themselves. Understandable if you were a miner or print worker in the 70s to hate her, but what I cannot abide are these affluent hypocrites who have gained so much personal wealth thanks to her freeing the economy from the trade unions and socialists.

You probably shouldn't keep watching Ben Elton clips on youtube Dodgy. It's not good for your health.

Go and pop one of your Billy Bragg meditation CDs in and have a lie down. That should help.

[DodgyAgent]

WTF are you about ? It was all Thatcher's fault. Labour are just scapegoats in all this.

Being anti Thatcher is deemed to be a sign that "right on" leftie liberals are at "one" with poor people. Its great because it does'nt cost them anything and makes them feel better about themselves. Understandable if you were a miner or print worker in the 70s to hate her, but what I cannot abide are these affluent hypocrites who have gained so much personal wealth thanks to her freeing the economy from the trade unions and socialists.

[fullyautomatix]

She definitely did.

Then they sweet talked (i.e. bribed) Tony Blair and he unbanned them before they went bust due to fraud.

Also there is that large consultancy (who have been taken over) who under Nu Labour instead of letting the government sue them agreed to pay compensation. The compensation and terms were confidential.

WTF are you about ? It was all Thatcher's fault. Labour are just scapegoats in all this.

[minestrone]

It always stuns me how very simple applications turn into massive amounts of code. DB to screen & screen to DB with transactional enforcement somehow gets churned into something that takes a week to even understand the build process.

Intelligent Finance was classic, 15 million lines of code for 40 web pages.

[SueEllen]

I believe Thatcher banned one big consultancy for rip off and/or bad work (usually comes together) from bidding for any Govt contract.

She definitely did.

Then they sweet talked (i.e. bribed) Tony Blair and he unbanned them before they went bust due to fraud.

Also there is that large consultancy (who have been taken over) who under Nu Labour instead of letting the government sue them agreed to pay compensation. The compensation and terms were confidential.

[TimberWolf]

Enough talk, isn't it about time we started locking them up, e.g. Patricia Hewitt?

[rollingergrund]

The end result should be a big win for independent contractors

Why do you think that?