Statistics Prove the Government Didn't Labour After All: Blair's the Criminal

Good evening. A fine evening to reflect on some statistics on income inequality in the UK, one would feel.

Findings in 'The Guardian' in May 2009 from the Department for Work and Pensions and the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) have shown the darkest results that Labour could have wished for.

We all remember, back in 1997, Labour's mantra to end child poverty...well roll on the largest inequality of income difference since the modern records began in the early '60s (1961 as far as the IFS is concerned).

A lot has happened since Mr Blair won his third election in 2005. England have won the Ashes. Twice! The poorest 10% of households have seen their weekly incomes fall £9 to £147 (after inflation). On the other hand, the richest 10% of homes have seen a £45 increase to £1033 weekly. Now Mr Major, that's just not cricket!

The Gini Coefficient, from HBAI data, shows a rise steeply in Thatcher's government, and then a levelling off, even a small decrease under Major and then a steady creep up under Blair, and more recently, Gordon Brown. Thus suggesting the most unnatural of results - Major's government closed the gap greater than New Labour did. Interesting stuff.

The IFS has suggested the poverty increase in 2007-08 was due to weak income growth for the low paid. Right too, that the rise in inflation had eroded the real value of benefits and tax credits, naturally.

Labour's goal is falling like Bambi on ice it would seem, and with the chance of that man Dave Cameron taking charge, I would be surprised if things improved in the near future.

Over and out.

SB

Cameron: Labour has Widened Poverty Gap

Writing in the Guardian for an exclusive article on Tuesday 10th November, Tory leader David Cameron hit out at Labour's handling of the poverty problem in the UK.

Regularly referring to Labour's 'Big Government' approach, Cameron claims that as the state continued to expand under Labour since 1997, the state has become 'more, not less unfair'.

He also goes on to say that for the first time in 30 years, the gap between the richest and poorest is at its widest. This also with his apparent plans to give adults greater education later in life to support themselves and children a 'second chance' at education should they come from a more underpriveleged background.

Interesting words indeed from a Conservative leader...as it seems to be the case with Mr Cameron, we only hear words of criticism for what everybody else is doing wrong, and yet no suggestions as to how he will tackle the UK's biggest issues today.

It's all very well putting into fancy words about what we already know about what the Labour government has done wrong over the last 12 years, as indeed we know it has done some things wrong, but the British public is fed up of hearing what they know and it would seem that the (probably) incoming Conservative party will be one that we all know of the past. Mr Cameron will just adopt the policies of Tory, yes Tory Blair. If you sift through the comments on the article you can see what many people really think, with general agreement along the lines of "OK that's fine, but what are you going to do about it Mr Cameron?"

Tell me something new, Dave!


SB.