Unbelievable Jeff

Looking at the amount sold by the Labour government since 1997, I think that is a bit over the top: Labour Bristol Airport (1997, 2001) Railfreight Distribution (1997) Building Research Establishment (1997) Department for National Savings (1999, back office functions contracted out) Humberside Airport (1999 - 82%) Kingston Communications (1999, 2007) Liverpool Airport (2001) London Luton Airport (1997) Student loans portfolios (1998, 1999, 2013) Actis (2004, 2012) BBC Books (2006 - 85%) BBC Broadcast (2005) BBC Costumes and Wigs (200 BBC Outside Broadcasts (200 BBC Technology (2004) British Nuclear Fuels Limited AWE Management Limited (200 BNG America (2007) BNG Project Services (200 Reactor Sites Management Company (2007) Westinghouse Electric Company (2006) East Thames Buses (2009) Leeds Bradford International Airport (2007) National Air Traffic Services (2001 - 51%) Newcastle Airport (2001 - 49%) Partnerships UK (2000, 2011) Qinetiq (2002, 2006, 200 South Eastern Trains (2006) Teesside International Airport (2003 - 75%) UKAEA Limited (2009) Conservative: BBC Audiobooks (2010 - 85%) BBC Magazines (2011) Behavioural Insights Team (2014 - 67%) Bio Products Laboratory (2013 - 80%) Fire Service College (2013) High Speed 1 (2010) Lloyds Banking Group (2013 - 6%) Manchester Airports Group (2013 - 35%) Northern Rock (2012) Remploy (2012, 2013, factory businesses sold individually) Royal Mail (2013 - 70%) The Tote (2011) East Coast Trains (2014)

I think the difference is, Milliband terrifies the Tories because we could see an additional 3 million out of work. Cameron terrifies Labour because we could see the current unemployed getting less money.

16,500 majority for mine last time too, unlikely to change...

I don't think I'll vote this year...

I think some sanctions are needed to encourage SOME people, probably the ones that got far too comfortable during the last Labour government. You can't seriously say that everyone on benefits wants to work?

I don't think that actually makes any difference, you can spend your whole life working in the public sector without allowing it to tarnish their views against the private sector - it's all about being open-minded.

...

I think you're creating an argument nobody has - these sanctions are ridiculous and i don't think anyone would say they aren't??

No, where did I say that? What a way to turn me correcting what you said into an extreme opinion, that's really well done.

So, 7th April for first drinks. London Bridge area. Any preferences for where?

Lucky none of the dates are in that group now then!

No, but when the upturn takes place more jobs are available and people should be encouraged to go out and get said jobs. The point is they're focusing on people who can't get a job in an economic upturn...

But what about over the last couple of years, where the economy has been growing?

Apparently it can if you read back through this thread.

Because they can't manage the economy. Hearts in the right place though, so doesn't matter.

Great news. Thanks all for your help!

Possibly. I just hate the ethos of the pharma's, with the way they allow people to suffer, and the prices they charge the NHS are scandalous.

Surprised to see how many were also sold under Labours watch...

I'd like to know how many of them were run at a profit by the government. Good comprehensive list though.

Big pharmaceuticals is the one I would like to see brought 'in-house'.

The problem is that in general the public sector cannot run these companies at a profit.

If only there was a credible party in the middle that would combine the two ethos'.

Don't disagree its to get them off the unemployed figures, 0 hours contracts shows that. However, even the Tories know that a higher standard of living tends to mean a more fruitful economy, so I don't agree with the second part.

Perhaps, I may be away but should know by the end of next week. Shall we go for two then, 7th April and 19th May? Who'd be up for that?

Apologies, I didn't see that. If that's the case then the Conservatives are doing the correct thing. I would like to see the living wage implemented rather than the minimum wage for large corporations, although this certainly takes Government pressure that they probably won't get from the Tories.