Oh, Mandy!

Lord Mandelson has provided me with an opportunity to vent my spleen today, after commenting on George Osborne's claim that the Tories are now the progressive party. So never one to miss out on the chance.

Ok Mandy, let's look at the points you made regarding the Tories.

Firstly, you mention the Tories inaction over the recession. Hello, an opposition cannot act to do anything on the economy. You lot are in charge, and apart from opposing the VAT cut which has added £12Bn to the national debt and enabled two thirds of companies not to pass the VAT cut on they have largely supported Government measures. If consumer spending has not reduced by the expected amount it is due to drastically cheaper mortgages rather than a few quid off the weekly shopping. Their £50Bn loan guarantee scheme would have helped businesses but new Labour dawdled and came out with a paltry amount which has achieved very little. Your help for mortgages was not agreed with the banks when announced, and has helped very few.

On debt, you and your leader have your heads in the sand, when you pull them out you will see the largest debt this country has ever witnessed and painful cuts will be necessary. To deny it behind woolly talk of re-prioritisation merely shows how out of touch with reality you have become.

You mention that they are being 'coy' with their policies. Well, you tend to nick them or come up with completely inaccurate and false statements about them, it's no wonder is it? You have singly failed to explain how we'll cope with the countries debt after the election - glasshouses and the throwing of stones comes to mind. I seem to remember you only having 5 specific pledges before the 97 election, you must be proud.

Let's look at your 'successes'.

On Health, yes, there have been some improvements. That's what happens when you double the spending. Have we got value for money, not particularly. When you came in you abolished the internal market, then 4 years later brought it back. Is that original reform? No. Not progressive, just throwing money at it. You cocked up the GP contracts which paid them more to do less. Productivity has reduced. And we're still waiting for the expensive NHS IT system to be delivered, only 4 years late. Have you not heard of building Agile IT development into your contracts?

On Education, you've spent a lot more. You've also fiddled a lot more. No-one believes that our GCSE, A-Level and Degree standards are the same as when you arrived. You can say that more people achieve 5 grade C GCSEs now than before, but when the most difficult question is to identify the order of traffic lights it's not surprising is it? Admittedly, the schools building programme has given us some lovely new buildings in which to downgrade our standards. Did you pay for them all? No, we'll be paying for them for the next 30 years under PFI.

Better help for the unemployed? That would be why we're now at 2.5 million of them. It's a mish-mash of schemes which don't work, the new deal was an expensive flop. You helped them to disappear of the unemployed register and claim for sickness. If the figures weren't lying they'd be nearer 6.5 million.

Better workplace rights. Yes, some progress at the expense of business competitiveness. Still it's hard to completely lose your paymaster's - the unions - influence.

Greater devolution of Government. Yes, completely true. But you did try to put your placemen into the top positions. Let's not forget though, in place of a great democracy, we now have decisions devolved to quangos and committees. None accountable, but I'd guess you'd prefer it that way.

Let's not forget either...

Economy. Inheriting a golden legacy, and leaving a basket case. You have done it again. From the things above you know that when you have no ideas you throw money at it and leave us with debts. Now we are reaping your dividend, and remember no Labour Government has left office with unemployment lower.

Civil Liberties. Complete disaster, the most authoritarian British Government in history. You should hang your heads.

Europe. Back sliding and cowardice. When is a treaty not a treaty? When you pretend it isn't and deny the country their say - on which you got elected. Let's not ever believe your Manifesto again. Not worth the paper...

Foreign Policy & Defence. War, war and war. Admittedly, some war were right like Afghanistan. But the who WMD/45 minutes has destroyed any good will we had to be upholders of the world's good intentions. On top of that, your behaviour towards the armed forces is absolutely shameful. You cannot fight two wars on a shoestring. Give them the equipment they need to do the job properly or don't even go there.


So, in summary, Mr Mandelson your party is the most 'progressive' party, and have shown it by progressively destroying all the good in this country and taking us to the brink. That is why you will be out for a generation come next year, and we won't, hopefully, have to listen to your half-truths and misinformation again.

Squiffy.