Lord Duckhunter

The Blair era ended with a hung parliament (labour kicked out), the Thatcher era ended with another Tory election win.

I'm sure that the Countyside alliance had WI members, had poor little children, had pensioners and even unemployed people on it, there were after all 400,000 of them. They never claimed to be the "mainstream majority" though. If the Tories plans were so bad why is it just the Jocks and Taffs (where a far higher % of there work force is in the public sector) that rejected them. In England they has a massive majority. Is it just the English that didn't understand the cuts that were coming. Didn't Labour promise cuts in excess of Maggie Thatcher's?

Thatcher was elected 3 times, and then The Tories once again afetr she's gone. So how does election wins, back up your point?

That was the choice at the last election and more people voted for The Tory approach. With that in mind how can Ed claim he speaks for the "mainstream majoirty". Particulary in England, have you seen the areas of blue in England? http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/2432632/UK-General-Election-2010-political-map.html

New Wembley is a disgrace, once they were knocking down the whole lot, it was not Wembley. Should have moved it to a better location, terrible terrible place. Cardiff was 50 times better pre match.

We did have competition to the banks but between Govt's of both colours and the public themselves, we conspired to change all that. 30 years ago, if you wanted a mortgage you went to a Building Society and if you wanted a loan you went to a bank.There needed to be some fluidity between the two otherwide the Societies couldn't compete in a modern market, but starting with Thatcher and carried on since, it went too far. In the 1980's Societies were suddenly allowed to borrow money from the money markets, rather than from investors, they were allowed to demutualise. The upshot of this was for all intense and purposes they became banks. Banks that then merged and took over other banks, until there were basically 4 or 5 massive banks or banking groups. The public loved it, demutualisation was basically seen as free money and the members voted again and again for change. Doesn't look like free money now does it? Being a member of one big Building Society (Nationwide) that didn't follow this route I can't help feeling that had The Halifax, The Alliance and Leicester, The Abbey National ect ect remained Building Societies, we may not be in quite the mess we are now. It's obviously a bit more complicated than that, but there would have been the competition you so desire.

When it comes to Europe all 3 major parties are as bad as each other, I've no doubt the Tories or the Coalition would also have signed this deal. They all want to be "good Europeans". This is a drop in the ocean compared to the money we have given Europe for 40 years , money that has been used to invest and grow the economys of Ireland and Portugal. Countries who have lived above their means as a result of this money and now need more of our money to bail them out.

400,000 marched through the capital on the Countryside alliance march-no trouble 750,000 marched against the Iraq war-no trouble. Milliband had to speak at the TUC rally because he is the union's man. He dose not speak for the "mainstream majority" they spoke at the general election. The Tories stood on a platform of cutting the deficit in one Parliament, Labour on halving it. Which party won the most votes, which party had enough seats to form a coalition with the Lib/Dems and which didn't? It looks like the "mainstream majority" rejected his party only a few months ago. To say you speak for the "mainstream majority" within a year of losing 91 seats and within a year of an election where the people rejected you, is arrogant in the extreme.

"The devalued Prime Minister of a devalued Government" , and who were his chief advisors for many years, Ed and Ed. Who was at his side when he went through the "no more boom and bust" years, at his side when the gold was flogged off , of course Ed and Ed.God help us if those 2 ever get near our economy ever again.

We are friends with an Irish family and have been for years, we stay with them once a year and they stay with us once a year. They are similar to us in terms of jobs and income, but you would not beleiev the amount of money they have been allowed to borrow. They have remortgaged time and time again, building a massive extension. They have had flash new cars time and time again, all on credit. 2 foregin holidays a year, house full of flat screen tvs, games consules, and they spent money like it was going out of fashion. All their neighbours are the same, and these are ordinary working people. They have had a great lifestyle for the past 10 years, but it is now coming back to haunt them. for the first time in years, they cant afford a holiday and they are really struggling to pay their bills. I used to shake my head wondering how on earth they could afford the stuff they had. Now they cant and if you think it's bad here, it's 10 worse over there.

Of course there are real problems ahead, but at least this Govt have a plan to deal with them. Darling also had a plan, but since he moved on the Labour policy is unworkable. They have oppossed every cut, every measure, and have even made more spending commitments. Ed Balls is either in denial of the scale of the problem or a cynical opportunist who is misleading the Country. Either way he is unfit to sort out the mess that his policies helped to create. I am no fan of this "wet" centre Tory led coalition, but it a damn sight better than the alternative.

I dont think the league possible that season, if I remember correctly Liverpool pretty much ran away with it, and only started dropping a few points after it was in the bag.

I like Brian Howard but I cant help thinking Idiakez. II gave one of the best performance I've seen out of the Premiership, but it was in a Derby shirt. For us he was patchy, yes he had some good moments, but all in all he was a dissapointment. Personally I've seen enough of signing what appear to be decent players who are one or two seasons past their best, if their best was top end of Premiership, then maybe, but when their best was mid table Championship-no thanks. I like the way we appear to be using the loan market, it doesn't appear to be a knee jerk, get someone in regardless attitude, but a joined up policy of signing someone for now with a view to the future.

You can look back at every Manager that's ever Managed and they've all made mistakes. Fergie has made a few, especially when the European rule was 3 foreginers only. Goes without saying that the best Managers are the ones who've made the least mistakes, and Lawrie didn't make many. In those days the Manager asked the player if they were able to play and do a job and if they said yes, they were in. Nowadays the medical staff would have a lot more of a say,and clubs tend to protect the players a bit more. You have to say if we get to the play off final and AL is touch and go, a lot of people will want Adkins to risk him and play him half fit.

For the past 6 months my boss has been a Women (first time I've worked for one). She's OK, apart from being ugly, but shes more demanding and harder than any bloke I've ever worked for. If I ask her for any advice her line tends to be "If I make that decision then one of us doesn't need to be here, and guess which one it is?", shes also great with the "just do what I pay you for, and we'll get along fine". I have 35 people reporting to me and they have noticed a difference, as another classic of hers is "deal with your people, or I'll deal with you". A lot of the middle managers at my level left or transfered, but I stuck it out and she has made me a better Manager, for the Company. Although not for my staff. I'm sure she says things to us, just to get a reaction. I argue back with her and she seems to respect that, she does tend to bully the ones who are yes men. All in all I would rather work for a man anyday, but shes on the up and up within the Company so must be doing something right.

According to the Office for National Statistics, last year "The average public sector worker was paid £23,660 a year, compared with average private sector workers who were paid £21,528 a year."

I would back us to beat any side over 2 legs and would back us to beat any side in a one off at OT. I think we'll finish second, but if we dont, will win the play offs.

In the interests of equality I would like to see a show where a fit female parades around in front of 30 blokes. Problem is there would be 30 lights left on, no matter what she said or did.

Not much chance and certainly not before the end of the season.

Rubbish, Blair used to answer questions that hadn't even been asked. He would never answer the direct question put to him. This was a tactic he often used when put under pressure in interviews as well. As for Brown, his budget speeches were the most dishonest I've seen in following these things for 30 odd years. Bad news was always burried away in the Red book, where he hoped it would remain until the news agenda had moved on. He was also an expert on Fiscal drag. Budgets need to be looked at after a few days, but one thing that strikes me stright away is that after 13 years of a Labour Govt the wealthy were flying around without paying APD, but us working class mugs had to pay it on our cheap holiday flights.

A month ago had I been offered 7 points from Colchester, Boscombe and Charlton away, I'd have taken it.

Plus 2 home games in a row to get back on track after last nights draw.Hopefully Bristol Rovers can do us a favour, but I cant see Huddersfield or MK slipping up, but you never know.

Dont know if this has been posted on here, but here's the interview. Pretty obvious that Puncheon finished at the club. http://audioboo.fm/boos/309941-saints-manager-nigel-adkins-talks-about-the-injuries-to-adam-lallana-alex-chamberlain-the-possibilty-of-jason-puncheon-returning-to-the-club?utm_campaign=detailpage&utm_content=retweet&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

If Rupert was there and took time out to speak to some of the supporters, then fair play to him.As long as he isn't contemplating a comeback in any shape of form then what's the issue? He didn't delebrately **** things up, and I've seen plenty of useless players given decent receptions before. He's like an exwife. You get all bitter and twisted towards the end of the marriage and during the divorce, but when you end up with a fitter younger bird then it isn't going to bother you any more.

It's all down to results, nothing else. If he keeps getting them, he'll be a loveable eccentric, if he doesn't he'll be a clown who cant speak correctly. WGS was funny and amusing because he won games for us, I'm sure the Boro fans found him a pain in the arse. I quite like the bloke to be honest, better than Pardew and Wotte who both came across as arrogant. Certainly better than George Burley or a bored Harry Redknapp.