The Labour Party: 'On the side of hard-working families', have unveiled their top 50 list of achievements since they came to power in 1997.
They apparently "have revolutionised the lives of British people"
I like the free fruit for most three and four year olds, who wouldn't? but can't help wondering whether they are all what we could rate as 'great achievements', and whether they mostly include things any decent government should be doing anyway. And how do they compare with previous reforming Labour governments?
I'm starting a list of achievements not mentioned:
1. 100, 000 (or more) innocent Iraqi's killed
2. Lying about extraordinary rendition
3. 40% of UK children living below the poverty line
4. Young people no longer feel safe on our streets
For starters. Other additions to the list very welcome.
Friday, 22 February 2008
Labour unveils its Top 50 Achievements since 1997
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Now, I am not going to jump in on the thorny issue of Iraqi's killed, but "young people no longer feel safe on our streets", where is the empirical study for this? And they didn't exactly lie about extraordinary rendition as much as pass on a lie unwittingly. There are issues with their acceptance of what others say but any government with a lapse can fall foul of that kind of mistake.
Still, I looked in to each of the claims by labour to the best of my ability, I reckon at least 10 or more are misleading for a start
The rise of teenagers getting drawn into gangs, and the knife and gang culture resulting in dozens of murders, is something that has happened under this government. The rise in violent crime is not something Labour should be crowing about.
I'd agree completely, I just wonder where there is any proof that young people actually feel any less safe...especially given that despite any rise in violent crime it is still a drop in the ocean and non-existent for most residents in the UK.
I'm impressed with your painstaking analysis of the 50 'achievements'. One thing that has struck me is the claim that child benefit is
"up 26 per cent since 1997"? I thought it was up by more than that. In real terms we're talking about a rise of only 2.6 per cent per year, which is below inflation, and not something that could be seen as a 'great achievement', especially given the shameful figure of child poverty increases.
On the safety issue- I strongly believe that teenagers do not feel safer. They are much more likely to be victims of crime. 27 murders in London alone last year.
I'd agree with you, I just think we have to be careful about phrasing. I think those living in inner city London do need to be careful, those living in rural devon don't have so much to worry about. This is a real area that regional concerns should be highlighted rather than nationalisation of statistics.
With regards to the child benefit, I know totally what you're saying. I believe I bundled it in with the other "we did good for children" as an achievement. I did this despite the child tax credit system failing some people as well as other problems...the reality is that a lot more has been done to try and improve the life of children despite these set backs.
Given how much I dislike current policy on children though I'm thinking maybe I put it in the wrong spot. Perhaps an update will come about soon where I shift it all in to the ambiguous category ;)
What about ending the long standing right to free University education and then following that up with top up fees they had supposedly 'legislated against'. Surely that has to be one of their 'greatest achievements'
Congratulations on making the Golden Dozen - don't forget to put the badge on your blog.
Peter, their achievement in that is mostly the spin. Technically keeping their promise given that the government that promised free university education was dissolved and reformed before the top up fees bill was passed. At least that's how I understand it ;)
It is obvious this list was made so that it would be picked up by the gutter press and the working class faithfuls, otherwise the smoking ban would quite clearly be in there. As it is they've not put anything on there that "rocks the boat" with their core electorate.
Over 650,000 Iraqis killed
If something is up in real terms that means it has increased (Child Benefit) above inflation. If the nominal increase was less than inflation then it would be down in real terms.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_versus_nominal_value
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