Gordy's Tax Credits not Working

It looks like Labour's means testing is not having the desired effect and what we all suspected has now been confirmed. This is from the report, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation,

'Labour’s reforms to date have acted to weaken both incentives to be in work at all and incentives for those in work to increase their earnings. On average, tax and benefit changes since 1997 mean that someone choosing to work harder gets to keep 2½p less of each extra £1 they earn.'

This is a real indictment of the Tax Credits scheme, much vaunted by Gordon Brown.

If they really wished to help families, rather than gerrymander the tax system, they should make sure a spouse's tax allowence can be passed onto the other spouse. This will give families much more choice over how they conduct their affairs, rather than the state. It may well even leave a spouse the ability to stay home to look after their children. More and more people realise that kids require a full time parent until teenage. Tax credits just force people into work.

When will this Government realise that the most important job in this country is to be an active and present parent. Not a remote unit of production.

The benefit to the economy wll be incredible, as feral children become a thing of the past.

Old Etonians now run the Tory Party

As we know Mr Cameron is of Etonian descent and it appears he is surrounding himself with people also from that school. It seems strange that we are going to have to go back 40 yrs to Alec Douglas Home period, before the Tories move us forward?

We all know the benefit of attending that school, it is the biggest 'Broederbond' in the world and you are almost guaranteed success in your career. Nothing wrong with that eh?

But perhaps these people have no idea what the average british person is about? If your life is based on privilege and position how does that represent the average person's hopes and fears?

The biggest problem with the last Tory Government, on the NHS and State education, was that non of the cabinet used either of them, for their family members. That explains why they were not keen to spend any money on them, because they didn't use them and therefore did not believe in them.

Now what is different this time? Mr Cameron is trying to convince us of his love of the NHS. Should we believe him. Are they trying for power and then going to carry out good ol right wing policies of the past?
The jury is out.

Sure Start hijacked by the middle classes

Sure Start needs a very serious review to its efficacy.
Recent surveys show it has been hijacked by the middle classes, which is then a serious misallocation of resources. If there is anything going free those middle class mums will be in like a shot. Note how they garner all the best school places by having the gift of the gab, remarkable conversions to a faith once not followed. To using the inheritance to win in the postcode lottery of education.

Secondly Surestart detracts from families. The state has few answers and should not try to replace family life. A child needs a parent readily accessable to teenage. The current drift is all off to work and dump your kids in the care of the state. Doomed to failure and will take a generation to reverse.

Has Labour done enough on the North South Divide?

Whether we like it or not there is a North South divide. From aspiration to wage, to wealth, to investment.
Are we sure Labour has done enough about it? In fact have they done anything and perhaps helped it widen?
In their state agencies they still support 'London or SE Weighting' which is devisive and self defeating.
There is a huge investment in the SE, which could be better spread around the country
Nothing substanial has been done to assure that Government agencies are pointed to the provinces.

One chance lost was with the rebuilding of Wembley Stadium. The fact it has been replaced with stadiums in the provinces has been a raging success. So from Tyneside to Manchester, to Cardiff the ordinary person has been able to attend. Are we sure Wembley is not there to serve the London chattering classes(Like many SE institutions) The Olympics was another with the chattering class fawning over themselves and many ended up with the top jobs.

Yes I know votes are 'cheap' in the North but no need to take a lend.