tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post8464377181875575368..comments2023-05-21T13:27:52.157+01:00Comments on Not The Barnet Times: Tory conference is good news for BarnetDon't Call Me Davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-44325337482146628472008-10-10T13:51:00.000+01:002008-10-10T13:51:00.000+01:00ManswellThis piece was intended to highlight the d...Manswell<BR/><BR/>This piece was intended to highlight the difference between official Conservative Party policies and those pursued by Barnet Council. Most of us realise that political parties rarely do what they say on the tin but in theory the official party line is no more quangos. In reality, Barnet’s Tory councillors are first in line at the trough.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-58875348053197967862008-10-10T12:53:00.000+01:002008-10-10T12:53:00.000+01:00I don't know how you can endorse votng conservativ...I don't know how you can endorse votng conservative to cut costs when as your blog so carefully documents the conservatives here in Barnet are taking residents for a ride daily.<BR/><BR/>Surely an experienced political commentator like you hasn't been taken in by Tory leadership spin?<BR/><BR/>And it's no use saying that the Palriamentary party is better than the local scum we have to put up with - they're all standing for Parliament!manswellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14228002828964450322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-83379220103778073002008-10-07T20:30:00.000+01:002008-10-07T20:30:00.000+01:00Perhaps not the most stupid comment of all time, b...Perhaps not the most stupid comment of all time, but certainly the most idiotic posted here. However, I am sure Sparkled pixie will prove me wrong in due course with something even more pathetic.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-42522337535810512232008-10-07T19:25:00.000+01:002008-10-07T19:25:00.000+01:00Lets just say that currently I'm discussing ways o...Lets just say that currently I'm discussing ways of improving it with the Times group. <BR/><BR/>Regards<BR/><BR/>RogAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-14288361967810464062008-10-07T17:10:00.000+01:002008-10-07T17:10:00.000+01:00DCMD - while I take your point - I hardly think th...DCMD - while I take your point - I hardly think that qualifies as the most stupid comment of all time.<BR/><BR/>Rog T - have you been 'struck off' at the Barnet Times?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-40780129378642368652008-10-07T13:47:00.000+01:002008-10-07T13:47:00.000+01:00This sums up my view fairly well.http://www.libdem...This sums up my view fairly well.<BR/><BR/>http://www.libdemvoice.org/opinion-time-to-stop-taking-money-from-councils-4650.html<BR/><BR/>As far as local income tax goes, I would prefer LVT but LIT would be a vast improvement on what we have now.Duncan Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105566589242422573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-1866822436310660872008-10-07T10:54:00.000+01:002008-10-07T10:54:00.000+01:00Sparkled Pixie, congratulations on writing the mos...Sparkled Pixie, congratulations on writing the most stupid comment of all time. Nobody is forced to read this blog against their will.<BR/><BR/>Turnout at elections is falling because voters think it makes little difference and that the political parties are all the same once in power. I don’t ever recall an instance of anyone saying “I’m not going to vote because the parties won’t stop discussing policies.”<BR/><BR/>Debate is the lifeblood of a democracy.<BR/><BR/>Based on your argument, all the parties should stop holding annual conferences and instead their respective leaders should make a proclamation as to what will be. Just like in Barnet.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-35210931085197497972008-10-07T10:43:00.000+01:002008-10-07T10:43:00.000+01:00DuncanI agree with you 100% that local government ...Duncan<BR/><BR/>I agree with you 100% that local government is not as democratic as the public are led to believe, and I suspect that the electorate would be shocked to discover how many things councils do under instruction from central government rather than voluntarily.<BR/><BR/>But you can’t change the system overnight. Council Tax is not a perfect system, but neither is the LibDem proposal for a local income tax. A tax freeze for 2 years as proposed by George Osborne will really concentrate the minds of councils as they will be forced into cutting waste and bureaucracy. Let’s get public spending under control first and then decide how to reform the system.<BR/><BR/>As for the democratic deficit, the obvious step is to have directly elected Mayors running every council. The chief officers of the council have far too much power but cannot be removed by the electorate. Whatever the intention of Labour when passing the Local Government Act 2000, it is quite clear that the Cabinet system is fundamentally flawed and, in Barnet’s case, has made 53 councillors effectively redundant.Don't Call Me Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13602899129846028170noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-79912548609289644932008-10-07T10:33:00.000+01:002008-10-07T10:33:00.000+01:00Most people do not bother to vote because of thing...Most people do not bother to vote because of things said on Blogs like this - insiders fighting each other whether they be members of a political party, local politicans or national politicians.<BR/><BR/>To the average Mrs Smith the whole thing is a mockery and until it stops they rightly ask why they should bother and don't actually read the policies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-90532157576783151882008-10-07T08:51:00.000+01:002008-10-07T08:51:00.000+01:00The problem with Osborne's proposal to freeze coun...The problem with Osborne's proposal to freeze council tax is that it is yet another nail in the coffin of any meaningful local democracy. <BR/>The centralising control freakery of both the Tories and Labour might solve the problem in the short term but it fails to address the underlying problems.<BR/>Firstly Council tax is a deeply flawed and regressive tax. Secondly if voters vote in a high spending administration then they should expect to pay more tax.<BR/>If there are no consequences when you vote because central government is going to ride to the rescue then why bother voting? In fact that's exactly why many people don't bother. They<BR/>know that it makes very little difference. We should be looking to strengthen local accountability and local democracy. We should be freeing local authorities from central <BR/>government control, meaningless targets etc. Just think how much would be saved if the pages of meaningless statistics that Barnet gathered for central government were dispensed with.Duncan Macdonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01105566589242422573noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4269067397168966943.post-76525963963536976452008-10-07T07:37:00.000+01:002008-10-07T07:37:00.000+01:00David,I'm sorry to say that analysis of where ...David,<BR/><BR/>I'm sorry to say that analysis of where the Tories are in power and can make a difference (ie Barnet) does not really support your hypothosis does it?<BR/><BR/>Not only that but it appears their spin & media manipulation put even Mandleson to shame.<BR/><BR/>David Cameron should get his house in order here. Otherwise his speech is just fine words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com