RIP Maggie Thatcher.

[steveo]

I thought she was a strong woman and we need another strong leader these days that's for sure, but if she turned anything around it was for the worse in the big picture of her term in office.

+

Compare her to the other options at the time, which if I recall correctly were Callaghan, Foot and Kinnock. Were would we be now if one of those clowns had got in?

 

[Neil_F]

Yeah I can see how well it works these days as other countries control the prices we pay rather than us, silly me.

I don't understand this. What impact does the shareholder nationality have on prices?

Prices are high because raw imputs are high (oil prices and Russian gas where contracts are linked to oil prices), demand is increasing and government regulation is manipulating the price upwards for environmental reasons. How would that be any different under British ownership?

 

[Cricko]

I don't understand this. What impact does the shareholder nationality have on prices?

Prices are high because raw imputs are high (oil prices and Russian gas where contracts are linked to oil prices), demand is increasing and government regulation is manipulating the price upwards for environmental reasons. How would that be any different under British ownership?

Now really Neil, you cannot even believe that, it is all about the money, money, money, forget about the public, please the shareholders.. that is their job..environmental reasons, pull the other one.

 

[Neil_F]

You mean the Banks came to rule, well that worked well then.

No. There are more industries than manufacturing and banking. Hard to believe I know given the focus of our current politicians.

Banking and associated financial services (the accountancy firms and other professional services) did grow but there was also significant advances elsewhere.

 

[Lord Football]

I was asked by a Shrimperzoner to add somethoughts. Thought I'd show some artistic bend and simply upload a song...

[video=youtube;s4BCUWopQQ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4BCUWopQQ4[/video]

 

[Benfleet A1]

Killed the Council house building in one streak by giving them away at cheap rates. We have never has a sustained house building programme for the less fortunate since. True but successive govenments have never introduced building programmes or indeed, councils have ducked out of providing new builds on owned ground.

The IRA was tamed by Tony Blair's government. Matter of opinion, John Major started the peace process, Blair just took the credit.

The Falklands war was a waste of life for a pointless far away land that is ridiculous to defend when so many lives were lost.[B/] I think you might find that the Islanders consider themselves as British as you and me so defending them from a militery junta wasn't ridiculous as you say and I think you might just find that rather a lot of the black stuff is lurking about down there. Who would you rather benefit from it?

The Unions I will give you half a point but she destroyed the manufacturing industry and working class in one swoop.[B/]The Unions were helping to destroy all types of industry in the 70's and 80's with ridiculous wage demands and such like. And do tell where was the point of still mining empty pits. And yes, I am well aware that not all of the pits were empty but plenty were.

Yawn at the socialism point. Agreed

We should not be in the EURO.. another half point. Double agreed, and not in Europe either in my humble.

 

[Uncle Leo]

The IRA was tamed by Tony Blair's government.

John Major deserves more credit there than he tends to get.

As for Thatcher, a tough one. Plenty of good, plenty of bad too. I'd be just about in the 'pro' camp, but I grew up in South East Essex rather than South Yorkshire, which probably colours my views.

 

[Crabby Shrimper]

Killed the Council house building in one streak by giving them away at cheap rates. We have never has a sustained house building programme for the less fortunate since.

The IRA was tamed by Tony Blair's government.

The Falklands war was a waste of life for a pointless far away land that is ridiculous to defend when so many lives were lost.

The Unions I will give you half a point but she destroyed the manufacturing industry and working class in one swoop.

Yawn at the socialism point.

We should not be in the EURO.. another half point.

The policy towards the IRA actually started under John Major's government. I'm sure Blair would love to take credit though.

As for the Falklands, would you rather let an innocent population suffer under a military dictatorship? I'll bet mist the troops involved wouldn't.

 

[steveo]

I was asked by a Shrimperzoner to add somethoughts. Thought I'd show some artistic bend and simply upload a song...

[video=youtube;s4BCUWopQQ4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4BCUWopQQ4[/video]

Ohh look, the Queen of the leftys has crawled out form under his stone.

Hows things Lord?

 

[Cricko]

For the record I love these debates.

 

[Cricko]

The policy towards the IRA actually started under John Major's government. I'm sure Blair would love to take credit though.

As for the Falklands, would you rather let an innocent population suffer under a military dictatorship? I'll bet mist the troops involved wouldn't.

You are right I apologise, Major was a factor in it...The Falklands well,, we are not some idealistic British empire anymore, whilst the 4000 odd who live there are of course entitled to freedom, as someone pointed out earlier, it is more about the Black stuff that may be around the close seas than the people..The point of most wars it seems over the last 20 years.

 

[OldBlueLady]

Oh Please! Announced by Downing Street.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3734003.ece

What? It's what I suggested way back in the thread, definitely deserving of a State funeral.

 

[Lord Football]

Ohh look, the Queen of the leftys has crawled out form under his stone.

Hows things Lord?

How can I be a Queen and come from under "his" stone. Are you suggesting I'm genderly challenged?

Things are good, though I tend to live in the footy section these days.

 

[Napster]

How can I be a Queen and come from under "his" stone. Are you suggesting I'm genderly challenged?

Things are good, though I tend to live in the footy section these days.[/QUOTE]

Don't blame you. The footy has been scintillating.

 

[MK Shrimper]

What? It's what I suggested way back in the thread, definitely deserving of a State funeral.

I think a few hundred thousand ex-miners might disagree. State funerals should only be for those who brought the country together (Churchill) or did a lot of charity work in between extensive holidays and dalliances with sports stars (Diana).

 

[OldBlueLady]

I think a few hundred thousand ex-miners might disagree. State funerals should only be for those who brought the country together (Churchill) or did a lot of charity work in between extensive holidays and dalliances with sports stars (Diana).

You could say she brought the country together with the steps she took over the Falklands though - although no doubt some would inevitably disagree.

 

[Hotman]

She was the best thing that happened to this country FACT

So true. Only PM with true balls in my lifetime.

I've taken the afternoon off to contemplate the great work She did for us all. RIP Ma'am x

 

[Uncle Leo]

Matter of opinion, John Major started the peace process, Blair just took the credit.

John Major deserves more credit there than he tends to get.

The policy towards the IRA actually started under John Major's government. I'm sure Blair would love to take credit though.

I stand corrected :smile:

 

[Cricko]

So true. Only PM with true balls in my lifetime.

I've taken the afternoon off to contemplate the great work She did for ME. RIP Ma'am x

Edited for factual reasons.

 

[Cricko]