Comments on: Queen’s Speech

by: canvas

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:09:26 +0000

PS> ConservativeHome isn’t a groovy site. I wouldn’t worry about them - it’s much better for your street cred if you are NOT one of their recommended blogs!! hahaha.

by: Votedave

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:14:26 +0000

“Hey, How Ya Doin’”

Gordon Brown doesn’t really talk like that, does he?!

by: canvas

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:29:29 +0000

If that is the wonderful artist Richard Hamilton - then - Richard - you are too cool for school! But I think Ed Vaizey is cool too.

by: Mike

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:09:31 +0000

Ed - Some of your old metropolitan acquaintances still follow your progress even if you are now rarely seen in SW6.

by: Tizzy

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:19:45 +0000

I’ve been recruited by Canvas - oh, yes, I was also born in Wantage and went to FCGS before it was bulldozed. Spent half my life (I’m guessing optimistically) in Oxon, including DC’s Witney constituency, not far from where the Stig floors the pedal. I guess that might qualify me as a newbie here?

DON’T get me started about Yvette and her lot. That woman…splutter, gasp, retch. Can someone explain to her what she’s done to the housing market? The last time I visited Oxon blocks of flats had been put up on corner plots, pubs had been converted into 10+ flats, allotments had been built on etc.

There is SO much space elsewhere in the UK than in the S East/Home Counties - you are all doomed.

by: Richard Hamilton

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 00:09:03 +0000

Ed, I hope the flurry of comments here shows that you have quite a few daily devotees even if we don’t leave comments. The honesty and candour with which you write about what you see, hear and do in the political world, both in Westminster and in Wantage and Didcot, marks you out. You don’t pontificate, you don’t go in for ad hominem attacks on others, and you don’t go in for tittle-tattle. That’s why we read it, but don’t necessarily comment. In any case, the number of comments is a poor metric for judging the success of a blog. My comment for the day is in praise of the Arts Task Force report and I hope you’ll share your perspective on that shortly.

by: Phyz

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 23:26:00 +0000

Yeah this sites cool,
An I dont think 18 is sensible.I started work (parttime)at 14 it was brill.School till 16 ,college, various night schools an courses through my 20s.these days (im in my late 40s)
I do OU courses.the point is I love education and working early gave me a contrast to compliment it.IF I was stuck it school untill 18 without the work contrast Im shure I would hate it.

National service would be more fun than this.

canvas ;Nursing Yes education No

by: canvas

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:18:30 +0000

IRJM, I think Labour are half baked! LoL

At least Labour started the ‘action’ - and action does need to be taken.

Maybe DC can refine this policy and make it a real vote winner?

I think the modern Conservative Party are progressive enough to do it…

It makes me sad to see all these young people being ignored and abandoned…Labour let them down - so Labour now have a moral obligation to help them out (but not with benefits).

by: IRJM

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 22:04:08 +0000

“We cannot allow children to leave school at 16 with a poor education, no job lined up (unless it’s a dead end McJob) , no skills, no qualifications, no future… that is Dickensian!”

I do, in fact, agree: but to illustrate my view with an analogy, Labour are claiming the plaudits for the cherry on the cake, without bothering to bake the cake itself in the first place. Without the cake, the cherry is more or less pointless, except as a good, quick (sound-)bite.

by: canvas

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:55:43 +0000

IRJM makes some interesting points - but the UK needs to move into the 21st century regarding education.

IMO, children in the UK start school too early and many children leave school too early.

Education for all til 18, whether academic or vocational, makes total sense. It’s really about which party can make it work best. We cannot allow children to leave school at 16 with a poor education, no job lined up (unless it’s a dead end McJob) , no skills, no qualifications, no future… that is Dickensian!

PS> David Cameron managed to get back to normal today regarding responses on his forum on Webcameron! About time too!