Categories: uncategorized
Date: 23 May 2008 12:56:17
I'm trying not to get too excited today. Some peole are getting over excited and declaring that the current Labour government are finished, following last night's by-election result in Crewe. The Supreme Leader does not have to call a General Election until 2010, so there's a long way to go yet.
However it is amazing that the Conservative party have taken one of Labour's safest seats from them. It's not all down to the 10p tax fiasco either. What is most spectacular is that Labour votes would normally show dissatisfaction by voting Lib-Dem but this time the voters went straight for the Tories.
Much was being said, by the Labour leadership, during various interviews that this is a minor blip and that the voters will come back to them. There were the normal political fumblings regarding the successes achieved by the government on the economy and how bad things were after the Tories were last in office.
I'm fed up with politicians harping on about how bad things were 10 years ago. This is especially true when you consider that national debt was actually lower - once you add in Labour's off-balance sheet tricks - and that the economy was actually on its upward trend. After 10 years you'd think that there would be no need to keep looking backwards and celebrating your successes.
History Today :
1701 : After a failed attempt William Kidd is finally hanged in London for piracy and murder. Captain Morgan, another pirate, was awarded a knghthood gfor his piratical endeavours.
1798 : The United Irishmen revolt against British rule, with the help of the French, but are defeated. Sounds like a prelude to the Easter Uprising of 1916.
1915 : The Italians lay the groundwork for WW2 by declaring war on Austria-Hungary, after fighting on their side. The moral of the story is: never trust Italy as war partner.