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[Nickbat]

I thought we were looking at government debt during the period of Thatcher's administration

that graph is gov debt covering her period (and a lot more).

Thatcher was PM from 1979 to 1990. All I can see is a fall in debt/GDP during that period!

Well get some glasses and look at the hike in 2010......

Margaret Thatcher was PM in 2010??? Why wasn't I informed of this? 

[Vamps]

I thought we were looking at government debt during the period of Thatcher's administration

that graph is gov debt covering her period (and a lot more).

Thatcher was PM from 1979 to 1990. All I can see is a fall in debt/GDP during that period!

Well get some glasses and look at the hike in 2010......

Margaret Thatcher was PM in 2010??? Why wasn't I informed of this? 

No, but current lot were.......

[Nickbat]

I thought we were looking at government debt during the period of Thatcher's administration

that graph is gov debt covering her period (and a lot more).

Thatcher was PM from 1979 to 1990. All I can see is a fall in debt/GDP during that period!

Well get some glasses and look at the hike in 2010......

Margaret Thatcher was PM in 2010??? Why wasn't I informed of this? 

No, but current lot were.......

Indeed, not a patch on MT! 

[dbdb]

Well get some glasses and look at the hike in 2010......

Yes something odd happened in Sept 2009 you may have heard about it


(http://timetric.com/index/public-finances-net-debt-psf/)

[05omegav6]

That wouldn't have been when Bliar and Broon were found out by any remote chance

[dbdb]

no was a couple of lemurs in New York.  Brothers they were. 

[05omegav6]

Ah yes, them

[Auto Addict]

Two points on unions, my Dad was a staunch trade unionist (God rest his soul), worked at the Longbridge plant, but even he despaired what was happening there with Red Robbo. (See the FatShadows post above).

In the 70's I worked for Birmid Qualcast Foundries, the largest foundry complex in Europe.

The largest company in the group, Midland Motor Cylinder, cast cylinder blocks for Ford and Vauxhall, never a week went by without a stike there.

Both Ford and Vauxhall both said, if there were any more strikes, they would have to take their work elsewhere.

So the Union called a strike in protest.

Guess what happened.

The Union 'leaders' in those days thought they were bigger than the company.

[mantahatch]

Two points on unions, my Dad was a staunch trade unionist (God rest his soul), worked at the Longbridge plant, but even he despaired what was happening there with Red Robbo. (See the FatShadows post above).

In the 70's I worked for Birmid Qualcast Foundries, the largest foundry complex in Europe.

The largest company in the group, Midland Motor Cylinder, cast cylinder blocks for Ford and Vauxhall, never a week went by without a stike there.

Both Ford and Vauxhall both said, if there were any more strikes, they would have to take their work elsewhere.

So the Union called a strike in protest.

Guess what happened.

The Union 'leaders' in those days thought they were bigger than the company.

My father told me that there is not a single industry left that had a strong union interference. I cannot be sure as not that old but would be interesting to know if any are left still working.

[cleggy]

A little union story from my late dad.
Just before the war he was working as a plater at an engineering firm in Elland, he used to walk a mile to the bus stop and then catch the Huddersfield to Halifax bus which passed through Elland. He was selected as the engineers union rep for the firm and had to attend a union meeting one Saturday afternoon in Leeds.
Just before the meeting broke up the attendees were asked for their expense forms and my dad was asked to stay behind and they would explain later. So he stayed and was taken into the Queens Hotel for a dinner with drinks and cigars and asked why he was claiming so little. He explained that he had worked on Saturday morning took a change of clothes with him, and caught the bus to Huddersfield with a train into Leeds so this is what he claimed, the bus and train fare, the amount it had cost to attend the meeting.
He was told that was not good enough and he should have taken the morning off work claiming double time for loss of earnings including the time spent at the afternoon meeting, travelled first class, claiming for lunch and dinner in the evening. With a quip from one of the union bosses "Hey lad if you just claimed travel then we'd all have to and that wouldn't do would it."

Dad asked who paid the expense and was told "Well lad I suppose at the end of the day it's the membership from their subs, tha' dont thing they get representation for nowt"

Dad was fuming and resigned from the union stating that he was there to represent the workers not see union bosses lining  pockets with their grubby little hands

[paul.lovejoy]

brought t tear to me eyes, respect to your dad Cleggy

http://youtu.be/TOWJECdobqk

it got nowt to do with maggie unless of course she ate t hovis like just thought i would try and throw some humour in...................ok i will leave the debate now

[cem_devecioglu]

A little union story from my late dad.
Just before the war he was working as a plater at an engineering firm in Elland, he used to walk a mile to the bus stop and then catch the Huddersfield to Halifax bus which passed through Elland. He was selected as the engineers union rep for the firm and had to attend a union meeting one Saturday afternoon in Leeds.
Just before the meeting broke up the attendees were asked for their expense forms and my dad was asked to stay behind and they would explain later. So he stayed and was taken into the Queens Hotel for a dinner with drinks and cigars and asked why he was claiming so little. He explained that he had worked on Saturday morning took a change of clothes with him, and caught the bus to Huddersfield with a train into Leeds so this is what he claimed, the bus and train fare, the amount it had cost to attend the meeting.
He was told that was not good enough and he should have taken the morning off work claiming double time for loss of earnings including the time spent at the afternoon meeting, travelled first class, claiming for lunch and dinner in the evening. With a quip from one of the union bosses "Hey lad if you just claimed travel then we'd all have to and that wouldn't do would it."

Dad asked who paid the expense and was told "Well lad I suppose at the end of the day it's the membership from their subs, tha' dont thing they get representation for nowt"

Dad was fuming and resigned from the union stating that he was there to represent the workers not see union bosses lining  pockets with their grubby little hands

quite usual..  poor man who got some power will abuse it to an extent but not valid for all..
 
besides, is the boss very different ? most will suck your blood in every occasion..  I have worked in private sector for long years and they push me to work day and night without any rest for years   and I dont think British boss is so different..
 
unions either corrupt or not must exist..  you, workers, have no power as a single man..  they will step on you and burry to the mud easily..  zillions of examples throughout history..
 
if any pm deal with the corruption anywhere and try to correct it instead of destroying the organizations and workers, their funeral now would be followed by millions..
 
 
 
 

[05omegav6]

Cem, it never ceases to amaze me how spectacularly you miss the point every single time

Unions lost their real purpose in the sixties, if not before. Without them we would still be a viable nation, producing much of everything an a global scale. I would go as far as to say that had militant union behaviour been outlawed in 1970, we might well have never had to endure this current mess

Regardless of whether you agreed with her policies or not, Margaret Thatcher earned respect from her peers and people in general by having strength of conviction, and probably did more for women in positions of responsibility than any union could ever dream of. History has judged her favourably, which is more than can be said of most politicians.

I'll say no more, as once again, you're starting to grate

Rest in Peace Margaret

[Auto Addict]

Cem, it never ceases to amaze me how spectacularly you miss the point every single time

Unions lost their real purpose in the sixties, if not before. Without them we would still be a viable nation, producing much of everything an a global scale. I would go as far as to say that had militant union behaviour been outlawed in 1970, we might well have never had to endure this current mess

Regardless of whether you agreed with her policies or not, Margaret Thatcher earned respect from her peers and people in general by having strength of conviction, and probably did more for women in positions of responsibility than any union could ever dream of. History has judged her favourably, which is more than can be said of most politicians.

I'll say no more, as once again, you're starting to grate

Rest in Peace Margaret

Well said

[paul.lovejoy]

Cem, it never ceases to amaze me how spectacularly you miss the point every single time

Unions lost their real purpose in the sixties, if not before. Without them we would still be a viable nation, producing much of everything an a global scale. I would go as far as to say that had militant union behaviour been outlawed in 1970, we might well have never had to endure this current mess

Regardless of whether you agreed with her policies or not, Margaret Thatcher earned respect from her peers and people in general by having strength of conviction, and probably did more for women in positions of responsibility than any union could ever dream of. History has judged her favourably, which is more than can be said of most politicians.

I'll say no more, as once again, you're starting to grate

Rest in Peace Margaret

Well said

yes have to agree very well sumed up simple enough for even me to un derstand and agree with it

lets hope she can rest in peace