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Welcome to Cameron Land
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English Matt



Joined: 12 Oct 2008

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2010 8:47 am    Post subject: Welcome to Cameron Land Reply with quote

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/poverty-and-injustice-in-david-cameronrsquos-model-borough-1962318.html#mainColumn#mainColumn

I'm not planning on returning to live and work anytime in the near to mid term, but I really hope, for the sake of the most vulnerable in British society, that we see a hung parliament in the election tomorrow.

The article, whilst clearly a little partisan, raises some worrying questions about what Britain will look like under Cameron......having worked in the (already chronically underfunded) homelessness sector in the UK, I am really worried what will happen if we see homeless shelters being closed across the country.

I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted.
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.38 Special



Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wouldn't being in prison be a step-up from being homeless? Shocked
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Depths of My Soul



Joined: 04 Apr 2010
Location: In The Sun

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A hung parliament is the best we can hope for. Go Lib Dems!
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rusty1983



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2010 3:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This is the first thread apart from my own ( a few weeks ago) that Ive seen on our election so far. Shows how little it matters internationally!

Anyway, it seems to be down to a Hung Parliament vs Conservative majority. Hung Parliament would mean change and would be something new, Ive got my fingers crossed for that.

However, it looks more and more likely the Tories will win.

Another Labour win would be nearly as bad as a Tory win for me but theyve had their day now.

My experience of the Maggie/Major government era was me Dad nearly losing his job. Obviously Ive heard about it a lot since and being Northern she is the closest thing to the devil incarnate in these parts.

Apart from what they might do to the EFL industry with immigration visa crackdowns which could see me out of a job, it's ironic (after being a prominent anti-Tory mouthpiece for many years) that I would probably be ok under a Tory government. We have moved on quite a bit since the last Tory government.

As has been pointed out here it is gonna be the already marginalized that get the kicking.

So myself aside Im really hoping for a coalition government here, because you just know that David Cameron is full of sh*t.
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mises



Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 7:04 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The UK is broke. This next few years are going to hurt:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7111963.ece
Quote:
As the leaders of the three main political parties prepare themselves for tonight's final, economy-themed TV debate in Birmingham, the warning ringing in their ears is that the job of Prime Minister could be a poisoned chalice.

David Hale, a US economist, revealed that Mr King made the comments to him during a meeting last week.

�I saw the Governor of the Bank of England last week when I was in London and he told me whoever wins this election will be out of power for a whole generation because of how tough the fiscal austerity will have to be," Mr Hale said in an interview with Australian television.


There was no comment from the Bank on his reported remarks, although it is understood that the two men met in London in early March rather than last week, as Mr Hale suggested in his interview.
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rusty1983



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 2:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

mises wrote:
The UK is broke. This next few years are going to hurt:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7111963.ece
Quote:
As the leaders of the three main political parties prepare themselves for tonight's final, economy-themed TV debate in Birmingham, the warning ringing in their ears is that the job of Prime Minister could be a poisoned chalice.

David Hale, a US economist, revealed that Mr King made the comments to him during a meeting last week.

�I saw the Governor of the Bank of England last week when I was in London and he told me whoever wins this election will be out of power for a whole generation because of how tough the fiscal austerity will have to be," Mr Hale said in an interview with Australian television.


There was no comment from the Bank on his reported remarks, although it is understood that the two men met in London in early March rather than last week, as Mr Hale suggested in his interview.



Yeah without a doubt. Who would want to be the next PM? The newspapers are saying we are one of the most broke in Europe, it's a mess.
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rusty1983



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 4:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Early doors yet but there is already a big swing towards the Tories. I wouldnt be surprised at all if they won
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The Great Wall of Whiner



Joined: 24 Jan 2003
Location: Middle Land

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like the Lib-Dems really matter this time. Let's hope they push for some much-needed electoral reform.
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Fox



Joined: 04 Mar 2009

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:24 pm    Post subject: Re: Welcome to Cameron Land Reply with quote

English Matt wrote:
I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted.


From my limited understanding of ASBOs, they are complete rubbish. As far as I can see, they allow court officials to ban you from a certain type of activity or going to a certain location (without you being allowed to present evidence contradicting their case for banning you), then send you to prison if you don't comply. They seem very totalitarian to me.
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rusty1983



Joined: 30 Jan 2007

PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2010 5:30 pm    Post subject: Re: Welcome to Cameron Land Reply with quote

Fox wrote:
English Matt wrote:
I remember one homeless guy I met....an alcoholic (as a result of having been on the streets for so long) who did not meet the criteria to be allowed one of the few available hostel beds in the city. He had an ASBO slapped on him which banned him from drinking alcohol in public anywhere in the city. As a result of being an alcoholic and homeless he breached the ASBO, was convicted of a crime (despite being a civil order, breaching one is a criminal offence) and was placed into a prison which had been contracted out to a private firm. It's very worry that we are already criminalising, rather than trying to help such people, and I fear that if Cameron's Big Society is pushed through, we will see public services such as homeless shelters gutted.


From my limited understanding of ASBOs, they are complete rubbish. As far as I can see, they allow court officials to ban you from a certain type of activity or going to a certain location (without you being allowed to present evidence contradicting their case for banning you), then send you to prison if you don't comply. They seem very totalitarian to me.


ASBOs are pretty silly. Theyre supposed to shame people into behaving themselves but theyre almost a status symbol for the underclasses. Im waiting for the day when I get ASBOed out of all Manchester pubs.

I have had a few friends who have been electronically tagged, which is effectively a curfew. Hahaha.
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