Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

In destroying the Unions, she set the scene for the grabbing of all the proceeds of growth by the wealthiest in society. The point at which the wages of the top end started diverging from the rest of the population is firmly on her watch. Britain's Unions may have been a particularly dysfunctional breed, but they did serve a purpose in defending the least well off in society.

Moreover, the idea that she transformed the economy as a whole is something of a myth. In the 30 years prior to 79, Britain grew around 150%. In the 30 years after, it grew 100%. Some transformation

hilary - exactly, and Gordon Clown did more harm to the Labour party than just choosing to ignore advice from city experts. If Margaret Thatcher was arguably one of our best Prime Ministers, Gordon Clown must have been one of our worst.

Well DB Camoron will historicaly end up even lower than Brown.

What does that say of the state of the present Tory party?.

Even my local Tory club have put larger up 30p a pint!!!!.

On asking a pointing out the recent budget I was advised it was the wholesalers at fault ??????

Mrs T didn't destroy the unions. She brought democracy to the unions and made them accountable. Labour must have liked it as they did not repeal a single law brought in under Mrs T.

Horse DNA in 5% of EU tested beef products

Horse DNA has been found in up to 5% of beef products randomly tested across the EU, according to results from the European Commission.

Inspectors also found the banned anti-inflammatory horse drug phenylbutazone, or "bute", in 0.5% of horsemeat tested.

The EU said it was "a matter of food fraud and not of food safety".

The three-month programme of checks was agreed by the 27 EU member states in February after horsemeat had been found in a batch of Findus frozen lasagne.

That is a moot point about Cameron, gf, since he is still in office and he still has time to get his act together.

18 months old but ...

PHOTOS: Trade Union Leaders On Six Figure Salaries

The six figure salaries of Trade Union bosses were revealed in the wake of mass walk-out threats protesting against spending cuts and strikes over pension reform plans.

Unions receive substantial subsidies at taxpayers’ expense. £18.3 million was received in direct payments from public sector organisations and £67.5 million in staff time in 2009-10. 2,493 full time equivalent public sector employees working for trade unions. This could indirectly support executive pay.

These Trade Union figures might be familiar from speeches railing against public spending cuts.
Their financial renumeration is less familiar...

I d rather have support from unions as a political party than funds from facists murders peados and thieves like the Torys. Dodgy to say the least and a point I brought up with Mick Hesaltine last year.

Jesus christ Skinny, the union leaders put in hours and hours per week and most very well educated and trained AND you forget VOTED INTO POWER.

Can you say the same of their equivalent the top bosses in boadrooms on million pound salarys per year plus bonuses for failure.

If trade unions are so anti private medical care, why have 3.5 million trade union members signed up to it? Several of the largest trade unions offer private medical cover including Unite and Unison.

DB time to get his act together LOL LOL LOL now come on thats a leg pull.

The lib dems break away this autumn dont forget(build up to next election), that will add to the problems from UKIP.

They havent a chance.

Haystack funny you should say that I got my request form yesterday SOVEREIGN..... company they use.

Basicaly little things like dental feet recuperation holidays.

NOT the life threatening illness or operations.

Torries will not win in 2015.............

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/politics/article3738413.ece

This is from the Guardian

The unions can be pragmatic when the interests of their members are concerned. Ironically, the trade unions who are funding Labour's "I love the NHS Campaign" like to negotiate private health cover for their members. Unison has a Medicash deal to help its members go private. Bill Morris, the former leader of the Transport and General Workers Union, was most indignant when his union's health insurers closed Manor House, its private hospital in Golders Green. Other trade union officials favour the Benenden Hospital in Kent, a private hospital run by Benenden Healthcare Friendly Society

Skinny,

Posting 23895

I had no love for Blair and thought him to be a plausible self deceiving charlatan.

I put Cameron in the deceiving charlatan group, but wouldn't put Osborne in that group, but a group made up of implausible idiots.

That is why Businesses are loathed to invest.

=======

Not sure about Miliband or Balls, but reckon they will have a hell of job when they take over in 2015.

Got a feeling they will do a better job than the present crew.

=============
PS

I wouldn't object to seeing Mark Thatcher, Blair and Cameron and a few others in the same court.

"but wouldn't put Osborne in that group, but a group made up of implausible idiots.

That is why Businesses are loathed to invest....

The union members' private hospitals do hip and knee joints enabling their members to bypass normal NHS waiting lists. Sheer hypocrasy.

Hays,

Not against private medicine.

But suggest that the consultants become full timers in private medicine.

The private medicine doesn't fall back on the NHS for training of those consultants and the whole of their training is in the private sector.

That those seeking complicated private treatment don't fall back on the NHS when the bills are too high.

That A and E is also provided for those using "private medicine", at expense of themselves or their "insurance" companies.

Perhaps, that would give a more level playing field.

Haystack, its a form of pooled resources.

Not like you and your kind who have everything handed down and can que jump. even onto the NHS!!!!

Totaly differing concept and one I might add founded in Rochdale .......by whom, come on your the historian or reckon you are.

Do you mean that it is only the privileged should have access to "private medicine".

The NHS subsidizes Private Medicine that is the hypocrisy of those using it.

But it is equally their right to do so.