tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post4021742855580164639..comments2023-10-18T15:43:21.360+01:00Comments on Fair Deal Phil: My Queen's Speech would bring fair deal on fares for our pensioners...fairdealphilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-42438786531159882412006-11-18T02:12:00.000+00:002006-11-18T02:12:00.000+00:00Or a feeble last legs Government. There weren't so...Or a feeble last legs Government. There weren't so many amendments in 1997-2001. Are we to assume that Britain having fewer Labour MP's makes Britain more democratic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-7307465958481607422006-11-17T21:27:00.000+00:002006-11-17T21:27:00.000+00:00amendments tell us we're living in a healthy democ...amendments tell us we're living in a healthy democracy.fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-14551124821315185492006-11-17T15:12:00.000+00:002006-11-17T15:12:00.000+00:00So only 10 of Labour's bills in the Queen's speech...So only 10 of Labour's bills in the Queen's speech last year were passed the form the Government desired? Rather proves his point doesn't it Phil. If you read his post again, and then your comment, then you will be slightly embarrassed Phil. He said too many of the bills had been scraped or heavily amended. And well...they have.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-38816477104256135752006-11-17T09:42:00.000+00:002006-11-17T09:42:00.000+00:00I think you will find that 29 Bills were ammended ...I think you will find that 29 Bills were ammended to be exact.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-31398169854848076252006-11-17T02:05:00.000+00:002006-11-17T02:05:00.000+00:00Geoffrey:
Re: Your assertion that almost half of...Geoffrey:<br /><br /><br />Re: Your assertion that almost half of the Bills announced in the 2005 Queen's Speech were subsequently scrapped or heavily delayed is quite simply wrong.<br /><br />The Government introduced or intended to introduce 48 bills in the session, of which 39 got Royal Assent (plus some other bills not envisaged at the time of the last Queens Speech). <br /><br />Of course, some were changed during their passage through parliament (notably ID cards, Terrorism, Reg Reform) but its hard to think of a bill under any Government which has not been amended as it passed through Parliament.<br /><br />We call it democracy.<br /><br />None of the bills were 'unworkable'. <br /><br />If the Government had not listened to MPs from all sides, you'd be accusing Blair of not being a listening PM...fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-34904318060677563512006-11-16T19:04:00.000+00:002006-11-16T19:04:00.000+00:00isn't democracy wonderful...isn't democracy wonderful...fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-51966758280133470992006-11-16T12:23:00.000+00:002006-11-16T12:23:00.000+00:00Geoffrey - I couldnt have put it so well myself - ...Geoffrey - I couldnt have put it so well myself - however we only need to look at health in Lincolnshire where 3 more non exec directors have this morning resigned - even they (including a particular Labour Councillor) have decided they can no longer be apologising for this governments total incompetence and mismanagement of health finance.Watching Labours Queens Speech broadcast was like watching the Teletubbies.The only people who believe all is well in LA La Land are those closeted in Labour corridors around this government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-24410685394298729432006-11-16T10:31:00.000+00:002006-11-16T10:31:00.000+00:00I prefer to the Queen's Speech before commenting o...I prefer to the Queen's Speech before commenting on it.<br /><br />But low and behold its all been leaked to the press first.<br /><br />What a surprise!<br /><br />Yesterday's Queen's Speech was yet another example of this Government being All Talk and No Delivery. So much so that I decided to look into the extent to which Mr Blair's divided and paralysed lame duck Government has failed to deliver on last year’s promises.<br /><br />It was interesting. Of the thirty Bills read out by The Queen last year, almost half have been scrapped, delayed, watered down or amended because they were unworkable.<br /><br />For example, the much trumpeted Education Bill was watered down after 69 Labour MPs voted against the Government’s proposals and The Bill was only passed with Conservative support.<br /><br />The Health Bill was amended after a row broke out in Cabinet over whether the proposed ban on smoking in public places should be partial, as favoured by John Reid, or more comprehensive, as favoured by Patricia Hewitt.<br /><br />Incitement to religious hatred plans were scrapped after The House of Lords inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Government and tore up unworkable plans to outlaw incitement to religious hatred in October 2005 with peers insisting that the Bill should be confined to the most serious cases of incitement, prove criminal intent and protect free speech.<br /><br />The Welfare Reform Bill was again delayed due to cabinet in-fighting and the Government’s Welfare Reform Green Paper was delivered six months late due to disagreement in the Cabinet and the Labour Party over Tony Blair’s proposals for incapacity benefit reform.<br /><br />The Mental Health Bill was scrapped entirely despite Patricia Hewitt originally promising a new Bill to ‘replace the Mental Health Act 1983’<br /><br />ID Cards were also amended and delayed after massive opposition.<br /><br />And The Violent Crime Reduction Bill which was Mr Blair's 60th act of Home Office legislation was amended after more Conservative pressure.<br /><br />Therefore, with Gordon Brown almost certain to be Prime Minister this time next year, one must ask "How many of this year's Bills will actually be law this time next year?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-69095882314100019972006-11-16T01:54:00.000+00:002006-11-16T01:54:00.000+00:00Apart from that? Raided their private pensions did...Apart from that? Raided their private pensions didn't you...<br /><br />You must be proud(!).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-11088112455816136402006-11-16T00:04:00.000+00:002006-11-16T00:04:00.000+00:00Geoffrey:
What's our lot ever done for pensioners...Geoffrey:<br /><br />What's our lot ever done for pensioners? R U Serious...?<br /><br />Well, for starters Labour's Pension Credit has cut pensioner poverty by two-thirds and, for the first time, rewards those who saved for retirement.<br /><br />Then there's the £200 annual Winter Fuel Payment - an extra £100 for over-80s.<br /><br />Don't forget free TV licences for over-75s - both the above described as gimmicks by "your lot".<br /><br />Free eye tests - I suppose that's just a gimmick too eh?<br /><br />And we reduced the Tories’ VAT on fuel from 8 per cent to 5 per cent. <br /><br />Labour has also rebuilt the NHS with the biggest hospital building programme ever in this country.<br /><br />Nearly forgot: The New Deal 50+ is helping older people who want to work find a job paying a decent wage – so far it has helped over 100,000 people find work. <br /><br />And then there's the outlawing of discrimination in employment and vocational training on grounds of age.<br /><br />And have you seen the £80 million prevention fund which enables local councils to install smart alarm technology in the houses of vulnerable older people, helping to keep up to 160,000 older people healthy, safe and independent in their own homes. <br /><br />Yeah, Geoffrey, but what's Labour ever done for pensioners, apart from all that...?fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-56384473693053393862006-11-15T23:34:00.000+00:002006-11-15T23:34:00.000+00:00Geoffrey:
If you're against means testing pension...Geoffrey:<br /><br />If you're against means testing pensioners, do i assume you condemn the tripling of home care charges by your Tory friends who run Lincolnshire County Council?<br /><br />Many currently pay the full whack of £40 a week because they decline to be means tested.<br /><br />The Tories are putting the weekly cost up to £120 a week - the only exemptions will be by means testing.fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-34766518612592976532006-11-15T20:14:00.000+00:002006-11-15T20:14:00.000+00:00brynley:
Lincolnshire gets approx £1 million a ye...brynley:<br /><br />Lincolnshire gets approx £1 million a year in Government money to subsidise rural transport.<br /><br />This is new money that neither Thatcher nor Ridley or their ilk ever provided.<br /><br />Investment in public transport has to be one of the big challenges facing any government over the next generation, particularly if the environment stays on the agenda as I hope it does.<br /><br />We all want bypasses round our villages, but the more tarmac, the more cars generated.<br /><br />We have to innovate new ways of getting more people out of their cars and onto bikes, buses, trains, trams - including north of Morton!<br /><br />The A15 corridor - including Bourne - needs serious thought. <br /><br />A few years ago I suggested a Park'n'Ride terminus in the area of the Deepings.<br /><br />It becoming a more attractive idea as the traffic builds.<br /><br />Thoughts?fairdealphilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07246131944479743426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-55047568311897627582006-11-15T11:28:00.000+00:002006-11-15T11:28:00.000+00:00The only thing you lot have done for pensioners is...The only thing you lot have done for pensioners is means-test them to the hilt!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-47595590030635026142006-11-15T09:30:00.000+00:002006-11-15T09:30:00.000+00:00Phil is write to highlight the pathology that prev...Phil is write to highlight the pathology that prevents South Kesteven District Council from getting to grips with any public transport matter.<br /><br />But Phil's proposed bit for the Queen's Speech misses the big point.<br /><br />The government propose to reverse ten wilderness years for buses, by reregulating buses in the big urban areas.<br /><br />So what about Lincolnshire?<br /><br />The bus anarchy north of Morton has long been highlighted in this blog. My bus goes at 7.20am, then nothing!<br /><br />For Labour to be taken seriously on public transport, rural areas would need to be included (as they were before Thatcher's Nick Ridley destroyed everything of value).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20661330.post-75194946831346350242006-11-15T09:10:00.000+00:002006-11-15T09:10:00.000+00:00I thought that from 2008 all local bus travel for ...I thought that from 2008 all local bus travel for pensioners will be free, including across local district council boundaries, exactly to deal with this problem. Equally, it's been a few months since I've had to deal with concessionary fares, so this might be wrong.donpaskinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05963534291677598324noreply@blogger.com