Earl Aelfheah

Just seen the 'Millibrand' interview - went very well for Ed in my opinion.

Electric, pay as you go, hire cars (zip cars) are probably the future for inner cities. Especially once driverless technology really takes off - but it'll be a long time coming / big culture change.

.... but any way you cut it - for the Tories to base their whole re-election campaign around supposed economic success seems to me, a bit shaky.

Clearly it's a matter of debate. But I think a strong case for the negative impact of austerity policies on economic recovery can be made. Just saw this for example... Nobel prize-winning, Princeton Economist Paul Krugman on the 'austerity delusion' http://www.theguardian.com/?/?/apr/29/the-austerity-delusion

Callie Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g186338- > d1454087-Reviews-Dulwich_Bed_and_Breakfast-London_ > England.html Blimey. Those reviews are pretty grim

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Building more housing? In London? When will this > madness end? :-)

It's more than that though. Their policies have actively harmed recovery.

...that said, Labour (rather depressingly) aren't offering an alternative economic vision.

The Tories campaign seems to be predicated on their 'superb' handling of the economy. It's bizarre. An economy that has been virtually flat lining over their entire term. They choked off growth when they took office by talking down the economy and cutting spending, instead of filling the void left by the retreat of private investment. We've seen a small amount of growth since they effectively hit the pause button on deficit reduction, but otherwise it's been a decade of stagnation. The reality is that the conservatives are ideologically wedded to shrinking the state at any economic cost.

It's not a war on the motorist, no.

Horniman has an overstuffed Walrus you can nuzzle up to.

There is a skatepark in Peckham Rye.

On 'Labour's Profligacy' - http://mainlymacro.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/mediamacro-myth-2-labour-profligacy.html

To be fair Brixton Village Market was down on it's knees and would probably have closed completely had it not been for the 'incomers'. The reason it was 'rejuvenated' in the first place was because, with so many empty units, the owners offered cheap space for 'pop ups' - just to get some occupancy in there. I think it's been a great success for the area personally. There are some serious problems in London to do with cost of living, particularly housing and rapacious property developers. But I have a real problem with people marching through the streets telling certain people that they're not welcome.

There are some choice quotes here on Banking regulation from the Tories in 2007. https://tompride.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/lest-we-forget-in-2007-cameron-endorsed-even-less-regulation-of-banks-than-labour/

Presumably not the train to Catford

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I did a similar exercise on a different site and > Lab, Tory and LibDem policies all corresponded to > my views within a very small band of about 5%. > Rather confirmed my view that all three are much > of a muchness. Yep, I just took the 'vote for policies' questionnaire and got a dead three way tie (Lab, Greens, LibDems).

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > With Gordon Brown, it is laughable to blame him > for the 2008 financial crisis, but you can level > the charge that he spent too much during the good > years, so when the storm hit we were left rather > exposed financially. True, but the Tories had said that they would match Labour's spending plans - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6975536.stm

I'm totally with you Lee. It's not much to expect people to clear up after themselves.

Also, bear in mind that whilst the Tories claim that Labour would be a disaster for the economy, they're the ones selling off state assets at knock down prices, offering uncosted tax breaks and looking to lead us out of Europe.

Blah Blah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Gordon's flaw was his ego. He wanted to be Prime > Minister really. He definitely was responsible for > the ultra light regulation of the city in the UK > and there were aspects of trading that were > illegal in the USA but perfectly legal here. But > he and the Labour party were never solely > responsible for the global banking crash. ALL > countries were guilty of poor regulation, and > no-one worries about anything during the good > times. The economy was starting to recover when > the last election took place as well. Something > that Labour have failed to get accross. And the > Tories follow the mantra that if they tell a lie > often enough, people will accept it as the truth. > It may have worked on the economy but Cameron is > fooling no-one on welfare, food banks and housing > I think. Exactly. It amazes me how many have bought the Tory line that the recession was caused by 'Labour spending too much'. even though the Tories said they would match Labour's spending pledges. The real issue was lax banking regulation, but again, the Tories were calling for less 'red tape' and less regulation in opposition, not more. There is also a good argument that by talking down the economy relentlessly when they were elected, the Tories actually did a lot to halt what was at the time a recovering economy.

Not very convincing.

See police have used CS gas on some of the protesters. Apparently Foxtons had its window smashed.

Jeremy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > At least they didn't call it Haus of Toast. .. or the tOast House

Louisa Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I honestly believe a few people > on Oakhurst Grove have seen me in the garden with > my bottle and are monitoring my every movement > post ban. I feel trapped within these four walls, > awaiting my sentence. Mr Louisa refuses to be > drawn on any of this but I do suspect he is > somehow involved in this conspiracy. > > Louisa. ... To be fair, this did make me laugh.