May 26th 2010 Day 15

The Queen's Speech

David Cameron was, in my opinion, a little more aggressive and combative than was either necessary or suited the occasion yesterday, in what he said after the Queen's Speech. Actually he was downright rude. The Labour government were not responsible for the credit crunch and the ensuing world recession. I think he'll find the money people bear the burden of that. The previous government chose to apply the fiscal stimulus rather than abandon people and businesses to their fate in the way that the Thatcher government did in the early 80s. It's hard to see that the outcome of that decision so far was wrong in human terms. Maybe we do owe money - aren't we as a people worth a little debt?

To call the Labour government wasteful, irresponsible etc is to make cheap shots which I can only hope show Mr Cameron up as the callous, privileged old Etonian he really is. Where was he in the early 80s when Toxteth and Brixton and Handsworth exploded? Did he think or care about the children of miners who were striking to try to hold on to a future for their communities in the face of Mrs Thatcher's determination to 'break them'? Or did he just cheer her on? No doubt he was far too busy playing rugger at prep school and being de-bagged in the Sixth form at Eton... He simply doesn't know what it is like to be an ordinary person in this country, and jeering at those who have tried to help, enable and empower them only reveals the depth of this ignorance.

If we really are going to have 'grown-up' politics, Mr Cameron will need to stop behaving like a braying Hooray and grow up himself.

May 25th 2010 Day 14

Grown-up politics...

Call me childish if you like, tell me this is a new time of grown-up politics, but I will still disagree with this particular coalition's policies and approach. Yes, they've 'compromised' and yes, I'd like to think they genuinely believe in this Brave New World, but I for one am immensely disappointed with the Lib Dems in particular - a party I always respected for their integrity and principle.

I just can't believe that this sudden about-turn over policy is the result of some strangely accelerated 'maturing' process that affected Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg and their respective parties during the period between the results coming in and the forming of the coalition. Doesn't expediency and the desire to gain and hold on to secure power sound more credible?

Opinionated...

If holding strong beliefs and principles, and being proud to stand up for them makes me opinionated, then I'm guilty as charged. In the words of Tony Benn, I'd far rather be a signpost than a weather-vane.

May 24th 2010 Day 13

Wake up at 5.55am to another beautiful day. Don't even mind that it's Monday...

Day 13 in the ConDem Nation and I wonder what it will bring? Apparently news of cuts and job losses. As someone said on 'Today' earlier, all jobs in education are 'front line'. I'm hoping none of my colleagues have inadvertently voted themselves out of a job.

On R4 last night a LibDem MP was explaining why their party had changed its mind about starting cuts now instead of next year as in their manifesto - apparently it's because of Greece. Well, that's alright then!

The question of which Miliband continues to amble round my mind... David? Ed? David? Ed? Oooh choices, choices!