Harleybloke

Catherine Tate.:

Brett Sinclair

Fantastic,

Glad I joined this forum. Firstly, I think Dame Helen Mirren would be pretty much the producers first choice, whether she would want to take on the responsibility of such a part is obviously open for debate. I think the chance of any Murkin actress being up for the part would make a mockery of the film...she was the British PM for God's sake!

However, it never fails to amaze me how the country still squares up when Lady Thatcher becomes the subject of debate...even when on celluloid.

For anyone who is interested, it always makes me smile when people say that this governments failures are due to the previous governments failures...because that argument will take us back to the Feudal system!

Most of you that despise Lady Thatcher do so as a direct result of loss of financial/social status (ie loss of job/house/career prospects) during her term of office which I can understand. However, when compared to the Wilson or Blair eras that didn't/haven't impacted financially there are more worrying concerns.

Tony Blair/Gordon Brown face huge unrest not just among voters, but within their own supporters ranks. This is not just because people have lost jobs or their houses (and these are perhaps the most emotive issues)...that is obviously not the case....(and don't forget, even that didn't bring about the downfall of the Conservative government as John Major took the party on for another 7 years after Lady Thatcher's demise in 1990), this unrest is caused by the almost complete breakdown of our moral and social standards, the most alarming of which is that this country now has the highest teenage pregnancy rate in Europe. I ask you, which legacy is more likely to have the most damaging effect on our country and our children?

I know in which era I'd rather be bringing up my children.

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

Steve Crook

Don't just look at the current figures. Look at the trend. By how much have the teenage pregnancy figures increased under Labour? I believe we had the highest numbers in Europe under the Tories as well.

I didn't lose a job/house or anything else because of Thatcher. But I still dislike what she did because of what she did to other people.

Steve

penfold

I don't actually have a EU flag on my licence....but I do have a passport, and it still informs all and sundry that Her Britannic Majesty's Secretary of State requires, in Her Majesty's name....etc.
And I'm not entirely sure what bureaucratic paperwork - British or European - has to do with my National Identity....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

penfold

Indeed My Lord......bringing up your children in the Thatcher era means that now they would be able to take full advantage as adults of the full employment, low interest rates and stable economy we have now.....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Brett Sinclair

Steve, you are right, but unfortunately this falls into the same trap as I mentioned before ie in the early 80s the figures were the highest...but that would be on the back of the Wilson years of the 70s. They then fell to their lowest in 1983. In fairness, the largest increase prior to now was in 1995/6 when there was the 'pill' scare (potential increased risk of venous thromboembolism). However, there is the inescapeable fact that the original figures that you refer to Steve included 13 - 19 year olds. The recent figures relate to Sub 16 year olds which, as I hope you will agree, is far more concerning. (Stats courtesy of the British charity Brook. Brook - Free, confidential advice on sex and contraception for young people)

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

Steve Crook

So what's it got to do with the party that happens to be in power?

Steve

Brett Sinclair

Our low interest rates will be above 6% by this time next year, which although still relatively low, will be a 2.25% increase in as many years and the unprecidented rise in property values we have 'enjoyed' since 97 may terminate with extreme prejudice. This seriously scares me, not because of what I may lose (and my business is heavily related) but the impact that it would now have on our country in general. Most of us here witnessed the aftermath of 1988...what may come next would knock that into a cocked hat.

The stable economy that you refer to is undoubtedly true at face value, but in the last 6 years I have seen my (please don't misinterpret this, I only mention this as a perceived valid point) company's operating costs nearly double. This is almost entirely down to tax measures of one sort or another. As I'm sure you can understand, from my point of view, this does not sit comfortably with me.

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

ChristineCB

I really need to make the time-machine much, much larger than originally anticipated.

Brett Sinclair

I used that specific subject to highlight the morality aspect as it is one close to my heart. The relevant part of that is that the stats are now U 16s. Apart from the financial state of affairs (see my other recent post) it is this lack of morality and social respect so prevalent today that angers me. On the surface we can all giggle at the ladettes and lads puking in the gutter; smirk at the chav smoking a spliff in the street; ignore the kid getting knifed in the park; forget about the OAP getting mugged it is all so commonplace now. Yes it has been brewing for a long time but unfortunately for Tone, Two Jags and Gord it is coming to a head now.

National Service anyone?

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

Brett Sinclair

Heck lady...you're in Texas...if anyone can make it big...it's got to be someone there!

There's no need to kneel, I'm a very democratic sort of lord.

penfold

Remind us My Lord, who was in power in 1988?? And when interest rates increased by 3% in one day in the 90's????

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

merryowen

Or indeed, who was in power in (I think) 1974 when Jim Callaghan stood up in the House of Common and told the astonished MPs that next year unemployment would quadruple.

Politicians don't really have that much effect upon economies. By the mid 1970s the Keynesian bubble was about to burst. It was just luck (good in my case, bad for my brother - in - law who was a coalminer) that it happened in the UK before the rest of the First World

penfold

But they did on both those (Tory) occasions mentioned both created the cause and then dictated the rate rise to the Bank of England...less so during the '74 oil crisis, which was truly international, and down to OPEC.....

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

Steve Crook

Sorry, I thought this was a sensible debate and you knew what you were talking about. My mistake.

Steve