Lord Duckhunter

The point I was making was that the Lib/Dems keep bringing up this PR and how it's unfair on them, yet in the European Elections they came below UKIP. This is because a high % of their vote is a protest against the incumbent MP. If you were a Tory living in a Labour area the only way to get rid of the Labour MP would be to vote Lib/Dem and visa versa in Tory areas. People who think PR will bring about a great Lib/Dem surge are wrong, as the European PR elections have shown.

Brown changed the regulation from the BoE to the tripartite system, it was his decision and was opposed by the Torys. It was also his decision to sell the gold at rock bottom prices, against the judgement of the Torys and now it appears advise from the BoE. This cost the country £7 billion which is twice as much as "Black Wednesday" cost us.

The only parties who want to change the voting system, are ones with no chance of winning an outright majority. Labour didn't talk much about PR in the past 2 elections, now all of a sudden they're interested. The Tory's had no chance in 2001 & 05 but never resorted to desperate talk of changing the system. Funny how the Lib/Dems came below UKIP when this system was used for the European elections. This suggests to me that they pick up many anti Tory votes in Tory areas and anti Labour votes in Labour areas. When every vote counts, they failed misreably. Perhaps a couple more PR results like that, and they'll be calling for a return to first past the post.

From Bernie Eccleston to Browns lies , this has been the most corrupt Govt in living memory. Cash for honours, Michael Martin, Mandleson's 2 resignations,Dr David Kelly, The sexed up dossier,Blair's Bristol flats, right through to Gordon Brown's lieing to the Chilcott enquiry they have been a mixture of corrupt and incompetant. They deserve to be thrown out of office once and for all. They were given a massive mandate in 97 along with a great ecomony and they wasted them both. It was under this Labour Govt that we went to war in Iraq, that the City was so badly regulated that the banks were given a free reign,sold our gold at rock bottom prices, that the poorest got poorer and social mobility at it's lowest level for 50 years, it was this Labour Govt and Brown in particular that smashed up the World's best private pension provisions . In the good times people turn to Labour under the mistaken belief that they'll make society fairer,but they never do. All Labour Govts ever do is put up tax and run out of money, and this one was no different. Yet again it will be left to the Torys to clean up their mess, and once the Country is returned to good health it will proberly turn to Labour again, and the cycle will continue. A part of me hopes that Gordon Brown wins this election, so that he can face up to what he did, and has to deal with the fallout of his policies. He wins it so that the Country can see that he has no answers and is an incompetant idiot, but then I look at my 9 & 10 year olds and think, why should they have to suffer more of this fool's mistakes. Why should their generation pay for the mistakes of my generation?

Blair promised during the last election that he would "serve a full term". Apart from the safe Labour seat he represents Brown has bottled every major decision he's ever had to make regrding facing elections. He pulled out of the original Labour leadership election following the death of John Smith (leading to a decade of bitterness aimed at Blair and Mandy). He then spent a decade briefing against and knocking down any other candidates in the race to follow Blair. This meant he didn't have to face a proper election for the Leadership this time round. He then bottled calling an election and has left this corrupt and lame duck parliament limp towards a full term, because he's too scared to face the voters.

I would pay £7,000 if it meant I didn't have to sell my home.People would have a choice to make, pay the £7,000 or dont pay it and hope they dont need the care. At the end of the day, if they dont take the option, they can hardly complain when they have to sell their house. Even under a Labour Govt you wont get your care funded by the state, without additional contribution.

My little lad's just turned 10, and all his known is rubbish. No Keegan, Le Tiss, Channon ect for him (even his older brother got to go to Cardiff). Before Sunday his favourite game was the Sheff Utd one with Nigel Pearson and his best away moment the Forset game becuaes of the fantastic support that day. He's at school with Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal supporters and yet on Monday he went in proud of Saints with stories to tell of the fantastic day he had. He said all the teachers were asking him about it, and he's watched it on TV about 5 times since. I've told him that day out, and that win means more to him than any Champions League, Premiership that all his glory hunting mates could win. By winning that one trophy, a trophy that we'd have laughed at for the past 35 years, my lad and countless other kids now know what highs football can bring and that you dont need to support the best to fall in love with the game.

But not everybody will need it, so the money collected off the people who dont require care will be used for the people that do. The £7,000 is just a premium to enter the scheme. Do you think that the money you pay into the National Health Service is used just for you and you alone, and when you use it up it's gone?

They are very pricey. Try Canvas they're the best value we've used although they're not on many sites. Haven are pretty good value on other people's sites, they're own sites tend to be a bit like Blackpool. If you're going to use the main people, use Key Camp, they're owned by the same people as Eurocamp but cheaper. I would recommend Med coast as you'll get the weather. Our favourites were Club Farret in vias sur mer, and one just over the Spainish border, El Delphin Verde. I have 4 children and when we went the ranged from 8 to 15 and everyone of them had a fantastic time. El Delphin Verde had the better Sports events, if that's what they're interested in.

I was lucky enough to see the great man at the Albert Hall about 16 years ago. I heard his shows could be a bit patchy, but he was on top form that night. Same line up as on this Jools Holland clip, with the upright bass and the outlaw looking guiter player. Fantastic

Durham's a bit like Scooby or 19C, he does it just to wind people up. Ray Houghton seems to get really wound up by him. On the whole I find it better than 5dead. Sunday afternoons are great and H & J good. Dont agree with his politics but Galloway is entertaining.Mike Dickin RIP was great as well.I used to like Rodney Marsh on there, his interview with George Best shortly before he died was one of the best bits of radio I've ever heard. At the end of the day, dont take it too seriously and it's a good station.

She's no lady

Visit France regulary for years. Biarritz can be a bit ropey weather wise, although its nice. I prefer Montpellier area. Sete is lovely and the weather is better, I would recommend it to anyone. Me and Mrs Duck would like to retire there one day.

My Gran lived to 98 and never went out of Dorset or Hants.She was born in Weymouth and lived most of her life in Bournemouth. She left Dorset to visit us in Southampton, but other than that never really left Dorset. We tried to take her to London once, but she refused to go.

Thats right. Standing for a pen is ok, jumping up when we score or go close is ok. The issue I had was with people standing the whole game. I'm 6ft 2" so it doesn't bother me, but my little one couldn't see. Had I known I'd have got tickets elsewhere and then all the people who wanted to stand, could stand together and everyone else could sit.

We were behind the goal and even when stood up, my lad couldn't see too well as everyone in front was stood as well. It doesn't bother me that much, but my little lad couldn't see (they were stood for most of the game). Asked the guys in front to sit down, but they came out with all this "we support the side properly" nonsense (funny how they missed 2 goals by going for a beer). There were some guys from further round who saw what was going on and offered to swap seats with us (which was great of them). Dont really know what the answer is, I guess next time I'll get tickets higher up, where they wont allow any standing. I tend to go with the flow, but when it spoils my little lads enjoyment, I'm going to say something. If that makes me a crap supporter, then I guess I am.

Personally I dont like the Mexican Wave, but if people enjoy it, what's the harm? I'm sure there's plenty of things I do at the game that gets on peoples nerves.

This is a great song, and this a fantastic version. Leon nails it better than Jagger in my opinion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ce_Z9NuwVBY How he's not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is a joke...............

I thought he came across well. Told them that the offer was there until they went on strike, then it would be withdrawn . They went on strike, so the offer was withdrawn.

I've been involved with dozens of sackings that have led to tribunals over the past couple of years. They've involved staff theft, violence and all types of gross misconduct, where the staff member was "bang to rights". Where ever our process hasn't been followed 100%, the Company have settled out of court.It could be a minor mistake in the process, like a slight change in the wording from suspension to the disiplinary meeting, that makes no difference to the case, but we always settle. If it goes to tribunal, the Company have a rock solid case and quite frankly the employee was badly advised to take it all the way. 9 times out of 10 they're on a "fishing trip" to try and get some money, therefore we always seek recompense. As for this strike, as it was legally voted for, then the workers have every right to take strike action. Just as I have every right to never use BA again.

The Band - The Weight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trhrN39li1M&feature=related

Just to add to my above post. My mate called at the ticket office today and was given the tickets. When he asked why they weren't posted in the first place (as he claims they are clearly the originals) was told "you've got them, whats your problem?" The women he dealt with was totally ****ed off with the whole thing. Now I haven't seen them yet, but he assures me he has them.

My mate got a call yesterday and he picked them up today, don't know what's been going on,but they obviously weren't sent.

As with all this gov's budgets, it may look good initially but will start to unravel as the days go by.

This is what doesn't make sense to me about ours. Were told on Monday they were posted Friday, now been told they are at ticket office. Seems that 1 of yours was still at the ticket office until you spoke to them. How many more are laying around the ticket office unposted?