The bribes have started early.

[Suff]

I always understood it to mean this:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7185953.stm

He said a referendum could take place "absolutely no problem at all" while it was still being discussed in Europe. But he admitted it was more difficult if there was no general election until 2010 and if all member states had ratified it without holding a referendum.

Whilst the Czech president refused to ratify, it was a possibility. When the Poles caved it became almost impossible. When the Czech President finally caved that was it.

But the press has made much of what Cameron "did not say". It will be one of the most discussed items in history lessons 100 years from now. What Cameron said and what the press told the people....

He went on, after this, to say that he would create an act which ensured that this could never happen again. He went on to say that he would renegotiate Britain's place in the EU.

His biggest mistake?

Making statements which the press could present as something else.

I don't particularly like Cameron, but the only liars in this scenario are the press.....

[cromwell]

Rachel Reeves, shadow cabinet member for something or other, has said that keeping every state school in the country open for longer hours will not cost any more money.
Well, I would have thought the heating bill will go up, if nothing else?
Interestingly though Michael Gove, our lightbulb-headed Minister for Schools/Community/the family/whatever, is proposing that any safeguards that teachers have in regards to the amount of time they have to work are removed.
So if the mainstream political parties get their way a ten hour day for teachers and T.A.'s seems quite possible.
Where this will leave teachers who have young children of their own is an interesting one; probably out of the profession.

[Kaz]

Considering his upbringing that's not surprising.
I think it's the sons and daughters of middle class parents who are, maybe unknowingly, so vastly arrogant as to absolutely know that they have all the answers to all the questions; and that no-one else can ever be right in any circumstances.
A psychiatrist would have a field day in the HoC.

Indeed!

[cromwell]

so far this week we have been promised:-
25 hours free child care
Schools open 10 hours a day at no extra cost
House building doubled
Energy prices frozen for 20 months
A crackdown on immigration
Oh, and we are all going to magically start earning more money - we are going to be a "high wage" economy.

The BBC's fawning coverage has been pretty predictable too.

How can people listen to this garbage and not burst out laughing?

I think the only promises not made were for a chicken in every man's pot and an end to war against the French...

[KateLMead]

Absolutely not. Cameron's EU referendum pledge before the last election was a defining moment for me.

How so? I'd like to get that out in the open. Love or Hate Cameron he has done what he said he would do. In fact he's done more.

1. He promised that IF and ONLY IF, Brown had not signed the UK up to the Lisbon Treaty, then de would hold a referendum.
2. He promised that he would create an act which forced a referendum for any new powers to be transitioned to Brussels (or Strasbourg),
3. He promised to ring fence the NHS from Austerity cuts
4. He promised to recover the economy
5. He promised to cut government debt
6. He promised to deal with the impact that benefits are having on our economy
7. He promised to have a referendum on a different voting structure

Now, Brown DID, in fact, sign us up to the Lisbon Treaty. Therefore Cameron had no referendum to give us. Brown saw to that, not Cameron.
Cameron DID give us an act which delivers a referendum for any new powers to be handed to Brussels
Cameron DID ring fence the NHS. For all the good it has done
The Economy IS back on track and growing
Government debt IS reducing as a % of the economy, if not as a whole. However the overspend continues to decline. The first steps on a very looooong road to mending the damage Brown did to the economy.
I see benefits as his major failure. He really has done very little about it, due to Lib Dem government suicide threats. But again I'm not surprised. I predicted that.
Cameron DID have a referendum on changing the election structure and the people said NO....

Cameron DID veto the transaction tax. Standing up for British business and the British economy.
Cameron HAS done something he never promised. He in process of supporting a legislation for an IN/OUT referendum on Europe in the next parliament, no matter who gets into government.

Hate Press aside, someone please tell me what fundamental thing he has not done, that he promised.

Because I tell you now he did NOT promise a referendum on whether the UK would be in the EU or not. Yet he IS in the process of delivering it.

Edward Heath the fool did not even read the Lisbon Treaty that he committed us too.. The man was a waste of space

[Workingman]

Spot-on Cromwell.

The BBC has done its level best to polish a turd.

The biggest laugh has to be on immigration. For every non-EU immigrant there will be a high-grade apprenticeship for a Brit. Oh yeah, Ed.

I came through Leeds today. It's fresher's week. Domino's had and army of sandwich board people advertising their wares. Not a white face to be seen, not one. Will Domino's be offering an equivalent number of high-grade apprenticeships for young Brits? I think not. Even if it could offer training making a Margherita it wouldn't quite fit the definition of an apprenticeship, whether high or low grade.

[Suff]

so far this week we have been promised:-
25 hours free child care
Schools open 10 hours a day at no extra cost
House building doubled
Energy prices frozen for 20 months
A crackdown on immigration
Oh, and we are all going to magically start earning more money - we are going to be a "high wage" economy.

Some adults still believe in father Christmas too....

What it adds up to is

"We will spend more money but borrow less".

And who's going to pay for all of it????

Yup, muggins. They "hope" our wages are going to rise. Because if they don't they'll be out on their backside faster than you can say "Short Term Thinking with long Term Impacts".....