| Your favourite politicians 18:02 - Jul 5 with 6996 views | gtsb1966 |
Past or present. We've made it pretty clear who we detest over the last few weeks but what about your favourites. For me it's John Smith. Robbed of being our prime minister . We'll never know but I think he would've been brilliant for this country. |  | | |  |
| Your favourite politicians on 08:30 - Jul 13 with 492 views | Warkystache |
| Your favourite politicians on 08:18 - Jul 13 by The_Flashing_Smile |
Jeremy Corbyn. Absolute legend. |
Jerry Hayes - MP for Harlow, used to appear regularly on the James Whale show which I watched when in from the pub in the early to mid 1990's.
Ivan Henderson - Harwich MP. Did a hell of a lot for local dockers in Harwich.
Bob Russell - was Colchester to the core.
Odd story. I once met Gerald Kaufman on the Central Line tube and we had a chat about the future PM Tony Blair. He made a face and clearly felt he wouldn't last in a Blair government. Nice bloke though. |  |
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| Your favourite politicians on 08:52 - Jul 13 with 453 views | DJR |
| Your favourite politicians on 07:54 - Jul 13 by Churchman |
It could be argued that in creating the FSA and dividing financial regulation between it and the Bank of England worsened the financial crisis, from a U.K. perspective. It is noticeable that the FSA was dissolved a few years after the disastrous events of 2008. That was created on Brown’s watch.
In terms of dealing with the crisis, Alastair Darling (i rated him) was Chancellor and did much of the navigating I believe. However I am probably being harsh on Brown. He was the PM and is ultimately accountable so should also get the credit. I would add that whatever his shortcomings, Brown was by no means the worst Chancellor we’ve ever had - the last 14 years’ worth for beginners! |
Gordon Brown and Alastair Darling were head and shoulders above any subsequent Tory PM or MP. Indeed, with the possible exception of Starmer and Reeves, it is difficult to think of any current Labour politician who comes anywhere near.
The strange thing with Brown is that back in the 1990s he was both a witty and highly effective communicator.
This from an article by Jonathan Freedland.
"Indeed, Brown should know that such political communication is possible because he used to do it so well. He was once a master of the soundbite. He reminds us not only of the enduringly brilliant “Tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime,” which he gifted to Blair, but several other of his greatest hits. Under John Smith, Brown had been the star performer in Labour’s shadow cabinet. A favourite target was the chain-smoking, do-nothing Trade and Industry Secretary, Nicholas Ridley. When Ridley was appointed, Brown asked: “Did he say to the prime minister, ‘Give me the department and I will finish the job,’ or did he say, ‘Give me the job and I will finish the department?’” Brown once told the House that Ridley’s desk “had no in-tray, no out-tray—only an ashtray.” |  | | |
| Your favourite politicians on 11:35 - Jul 13 with 400 views | tcblue |
| Your favourite politicians on 07:54 - Jul 13 by Churchman |
It could be argued that in creating the FSA and dividing financial regulation between it and the Bank of England worsened the financial crisis, from a U.K. perspective. It is noticeable that the FSA was dissolved a few years after the disastrous events of 2008. That was created on Brown’s watch.
In terms of dealing with the crisis, Alastair Darling (i rated him) was Chancellor and did much of the navigating I believe. However I am probably being harsh on Brown. He was the PM and is ultimately accountable so should also get the credit. I would add that whatever his shortcomings, Brown was by no means the worst Chancellor we’ve ever had - the last 14 years’ worth for beginners! |
Yeah I'd agree with all this. I believe Brown has admitted he made a mistake with the FSA - they'd only really thought one or two big financial institutions would be behind any collapse. Back in 2001, of course.
I wouldn't necessarily blame his (or Blair's) government for not seeing the global financial disaster coming, much like I don't hold Bojo's for COVID. But I do look at how (both) government deals with the fallout and I think on balance Brown and Darling did a good job with the hand they were dealt.
Unlike... |  | | |
| Your favourite politicians on 12:34 - Jul 13 with 369 views | J2BLUE |
| Your favourite politicians on 23:30 - Jul 5 by Europablue |
Barack Obama is terrible if you look into him.
The problem is that the system selects for the worst type of person.
I like Andy Burnham despite his politics. That is a good test for a good politician.
Paddy Ashdown was a good one. |
Go on then, i'll bite... |  |
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