Leeds City Region Politics

[Leeds No.1]

I'm not against elected mayors- infact I'm quite for them. But if we are going to do it, we should do it properly. There's no point creating more than one elected mayor in the City Region because then power is immediately dispersed.

If we had an elected mayor, I would want them to have powers on things like transport. Transport is a City Region wide issue, not just one for Leeds.

[*-City Of Bradford-*]

Lib Dems. I lost interest in the Conservatives when I heard about there plans for Yorkshire Foward and their schocking decision to support the demolishen of the Old Odeon Cinema in Bradford.

Not interested in Labour because it's basically what we have now, and what we have now is pretty poor. Not interested in UKIP either, we should be part of Europe and I don't agree with the BNP either. Not interested in the Tree Huggers either. The Local Bradford Lib Dem MP has some very promising ideas for Bradford, and that I why I prefer them over the others.

[rhinomatt]

Just home from CPC now, had quite a long chat with one of the lady's at the Leeds City Region stand. Did quite a bit of chatting to some of our Leeds Councillors and candidates for both council/parliament. I have to say we have the best bunch of candidates I have ever seen in Leeds.
I know technically I am bias, But I am happy with the candidates we have running.
Learnt lots about Manchester too! So Have had a rather interesting week altogether.

[Leeds No.1]

The Conservatives seem to be doing a good job nationally with popular things being proposed (except for the EU referendum plan), but what are they playing at here in the North?

A) They want to abolish or at least massively reorganise Yorkshire Forward, one of the organisations who have really helped the region transform. Take NGT or Leeds Arena as current projects for example. Both of those would be in serious jeopardy if the Conservatives get into power.

B) They want city mayors but don't understand the issue. The problem for Leeds has been that there is a 'Greater Leeds' area known as the Leeds City Region, and it is time that is recognised by giving someone powers to run it efficiently. Yet all the Conservatives can do is encourage the City Region to be even more divided by having several elected mayors within one City Region. They don't understand the issues at all.

C) The majority of Conservatives outside Leeds (and some inside Leeds) are against Metro becoming a City Region ITA.

On a more general note, I watched David Cameron's speech. Not impressed by what he's saying, but most of all it annoys me how he is so smug and sure that he will win the next election. I hate how he is giving the impression that this country is broken and needs them to save it. Yes there are problems, but we're not in the same situation we were after WW2 like he's making out.

[wiggleyleeds]

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/...r39.5709372.jp

http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.u...rge.5704990.jp

[Leeds No.1]

Those articles just show how different the ideas of people in the party are. Cameron has one plan, Andrew Carter has another and David Curry has yet another. Unfortunately Curry isn't all that powerful and what he wants (which is the most ideal of the three) is probably the least likely to happen.

As it stands, I think the parties best for Leeds are:
1) LD
2) Labour
3) Green
4) Conservative

I don't really want to rate Labour particularly highly, but at least if things stay as they are, the plans that have been drawn up for NGT, Leeds Arena etc can progress rather than being shaken up as the advanced stages.

[rhinomatt]

Originally Posted by Leeds No.1

On a more general note, I watched David Cameron's speech. Not impressed by what he's saying, but most of all it annoys me how he is so smug and sure that he will win the next election. I hate how he is giving the impression that this country is broken and needs them to save it. Yes there are problems, but we're not in the same situation we were after WW2 like he's making out.

I will assure you nether he nor the party are 'Smug'.
and I think you actually need to look at the facts, Public Debt is stupidly huge and if you really think that it does not matter then you need to have a rethink! Its the something that I am very passionate about. The UK according to recent polls the UK as the worst place to grow up as a child in the 'west' due to falls in education, chances and unemployment.
Please realise that the deficit and the Economy or recession within the Economy are actually different issues! To be honest I find it sickening that you can say the Conservatives are smug, we know how hard it will be... its a MASSIVE majority we need to overturn, bigger than anything Thatcher or Blair had to overturn, we know this, we also recognise this.
Don't attack my party. Its not my party that has made such a deficit for my country. This Country is broken and if you don't think it is then your are unrealistic. I understand the need for debate, I understand that you may disagree, but the Conservative party have told you openly what we plan to to, and that they are tough decisions, we have a plan. Disagree by all means on our policy's to deal with things like the deficit, broken Britain, failing education and unemployment, but please don't accuse the Conservative party by trying to say we are manipulating the truth. This country is a mess, someone needs to sort it out and we are the only party that is being honest with the public explaining the magnitude of the problems and how to fix them.

[MattN]

Ah yes, 'we're right and we're telling the truth'. Funny that all political parties seem to think that though? Can't imagine why.

Also LN1, funny you should say 'popular things being proposed (except for the EU referendum plan)', isn't that quite a popular move too?

As for me, I don't trust the parties at all, and am not particularly won over by rhinomatt's indignant demands that we afford the tories some sort of special respect, perhaps another PR tack is needed there. Something of substance to qualify the sweeping statements for instance, not that politicians are ever forthcoming with these. They've all got their hidden agendas, and now the tories have an opportunity to realise their dreams of shrinking the state, tax etc, so of course they will dress this as 'the only way', as all parties do.

But as usual, I fear I shall have to settle for the usual 'they're incompetent, we're the best, we're going to make this (insert meaningless soundbite with a space the size of Westfield Bradford as wriggle room) happen, it's the only way'. Shame really.

[Leeds No.1]

Just because the country is in debt, it doesn't mean the country is broken. Their problem is that they put money before people. We're in debt, but people are still living their everyday lives. But of course the Conservatives are too keen to try and tell everyone the country is broken and needs them to save it. And how do they propose it? By threatening our RDAs and projects like NGT and Leeds Arena.

The UK is not 'broken'. A few problems does not make a country broken. Obviously the Conservatives want to say it is as an attack on Labour, but really Labour have done more good than they have bad.

[Leeds No.1]

Originally Posted by MattN

Also LN1, funny you should say 'popular things being proposed (except for the EU referendum plan)', isn't that quite a popular move too?

Probably for most people it is. But that's because they want to use it as a referendum on what they think of the EU, not on the Lisbon Treaty itself. I don't want a referendum because I'm pretty sure most people won't actually read up on the issues and what's being proposed before they go and vote. I'll be annoyed if it is the UK that holds up progress at Europe.

[MattN]

But that's just it, the Tories are hardly united on Europe, it would be a convenient way for them to resolve the issue too and I doubt this is lost on them given that we have already ratified the treaty. Of course it would be hijacked, as in Ireland, but ultimately if the country chose to leave the EU who are you to argue? So much for popularity counting for something. If we're as eurosceptic as all that, we're probably 'holding up progress' as it is and if the wheels were set in motion for us to pull out, I expect we would then be doing anything but. Also, I believe we are still to see what the Czechs think about it.

[Suburban Knight]

Perhaps the Leeds United mascot could become the first directly elected mayor, as was done in Hartlepool?! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuart_Drummond

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by rhinomatt

I will assure you nether he nor the party are 'Smug'.
and I think you actually need to look at the facts, Public Debt is stupidly huge and if you really think that it does not matter then you need to have a rethink! Its the something that I am very passionate about. The UK according to recent polls the UK as the worst place to grow up as a child in the 'west' due to falls in education, chances and unemployment.
Please realise that the deficit and the Economy or recession within the Economy are actually different issues! To be honest I find it sickening that you can say the Conservatives are smug, we know how hard it will be... its a MASSIVE majority we need to overturn, bigger than anything Thatcher or Blair had to overturn, we know this, we also recognise this.
Don't attack my party. Its not my party that has made such a deficit for my country. This Country is broken and if you don't think it is then your are unrealistic. I understand the need for debate, I understand that you may disagree, but the Conservative party have told you openly what we plan to to, and that they are tough decisions, we have a plan. Disagree by all means on our policy's to deal with things like the deficit, broken Britain, failing education and unemployment, but please don't accuse the Conservative party by trying to say we are manipulating the truth. This country is a mess, someone needs to sort it out and we are the only party that is being honest with the public explaining the magnitude of the problems and how to fix them.

Try spending a few days in and around Wakefield, Normanton or Castleford, and you'll see what a fine job the Conservative Party did for Yorkshire in the 1980s and '90s.

[oyster]

Why do working class people vote Conservative anyway? Greed?

[Suburban Knight]

Not impressed by the Conservative party's savage attack on ordinary public sector workers. I'll vote whoever it takes to keep the Tories out!

[rhinomatt]

Originally Posted by oyster

Why do working class people vote Conservative anyway? Greed?

Because In the past it was the Conservatives that gave the working classes the vote, It was the Conservatives that gave people the right to buy, It was Conservatives that de monopolised industry giving working class people the chance to be able to set up a business (Look at how many major and famous business men and women have come from a working class background), The Conservatives gave the right for people to become shareholders in business and opened the 'City' to the working class too, The Conservatives also believe that state should not intervene, but should if needed help.
The Conservatives have done more for social migration than any other UK political party.

The Conservatives last two Prime Minister have been the Son of a circus manager and the daughter of a greengrocer and they are certainly not the only ones. On the other hand just look at Labour, Look at there record don't just take what you are told or have been brought up to believe about them, look into it for yourself.
Do you think Labours winter of discontent was good for the poor? In fact it mainly effected the poor!

[Leeds No.1]

It was also the Conservatives that drove public transport in this country to the mess it is today, the Conservatives that enhanced the north/south divide with their oppressive policies against industry in the north and the Conservatives that caused Black Wednesday.

Boris Johnson is a taste of what to come, and what a disaster he is compared to his predecessor.

[di Livio]

Originally Posted by rhinomatt

don't just take what you are told or have been brought up to believe about them, look into it for yourself.

You may want to 'look into' the appalling human consequences of right-to-buy, part of a cynical strategy to erode the electoral bases of the labour party. You might want to ask why the tory government prevented local authorities from re-investing funds raised from the sale of council houses into social housing - those who couldn't afford to buy their council houses (ie. the poor), were trapped in increasingly run down properties on sink estates, exacerbating the underclass problem we are stuck with now.

You might want to ask about what happened to mining towns and villages across the north when the mining industry was deliberately and cynically destroyed in order to curb trade union power.


Thatcher might have been the daughter of a greengrocer, but she was also the wife of a millionaire.

[Splendidineogh]

I was in Leeds city centre today and, sorry guys, it was an absolutely disgusting shit hole.

Litter everywhere! I wish I'd had my camera with me because it was beyond belief just how bad it was. The streets were just covered in garbage. Every street was covered in it. Just like it was the last time I visited 4 weeks ago. Absolutely shameful. Bins were overflowing and there were wrappers, half-eaten burgers, McDonalds cups, and other crap all over the show.

Those of you who keep defending this corrupt and awful Labour government... Have you actually been into Leeds lately? Where do you people live!? It feels like the Winter of Discontent in Leeds right now. Strike action and rubbish everywhere; it is just horrible and grim, like the 1970s.

Oh, and what happened to the trams? Manchester got them; Leeds is now the largest city in Europe without a proper metro system. Leeds has received hardly anything in the last 12 years. And on top of an expensive and immoral war in Iraq, the expenses scandal, rising unemployment with more to come, general corruption and incompetence, and just a general lack of any fresh ideas, we now have strikes and shit all over the streets. Can I just remind you; this is all thanks to Labour.

Wake up people!!! If the Tories turn out to be a false dawn then dump them after their first term. But the Labour government has already show how awful it is, please don't insult those of us with eyes by trying to sweep so much shite under the carpet!

[Leeds No.1]

Well the bin men have been on strike for over a month now and are saying they'll continue until Christmas.

I don't want Labour in for another term, but equally the Conservatives aren't providing an alternative. I'd like LD to win but it's probably not going to happen. The two main parties are as bad as each other; not seeing a clear way forward.