Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Overstatement or overperforming ocracy?...


Guardian Pledge Tracker, click to link
One year on: "Today marks the first anniversary of a minor political miracle"... ..."By any measure, the Coalition has had an easy first year... the determination of both [David Cameron] and Mr Clegg to make it work, often in defiance of their parties." Benedict Brogan in today's Daily Telegraph.
"In the process they have achieved more than Mr Blair managed in a decade"
James Landale, the BBC News deputy political editor, despite starting on the "Division and recrimination" says something similar: "In 1997, Labour stuttered and hesitated over what to do with its unexpected landslide. This coalition has roared into action with at times dangerous hyperactivity.** Just run your mind through a few of the things it has been doing. It has begun radical reforms... ...These are the long-term, heavy lifting, tricky public policy issues that past governments have been unwilling or unable to tackle."

** Joe Murphy in the Evening Standard Politics blog reports "Letwin's clipboard", a presentation given to Cabinet yesterday by Oliver Letwin on the Coalition's record to date: 66 per cent of the target workload for its first year has been completed; 31 per cent are works in progress and only three per cent are overdue (842 actions completed, 391 underway and 43 running late)

Matthew Robertson at TRG is "surprised that the coalition has lasted this long" and that "The self-proclaimed 'progressive left' are astonished". I have no doubt there are hundreds of less favourable comments out there...but HERE'S Number10's own version [pdf]

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5 comments:

The Great Gildersleeve said...

Few of the proposals have bitten yet so the population is still to some extent oblivious of what is going to hit them hard.

Equally, those in power try to use the "If we don't take the hard measures we are having to we'll be like Potugal, Greece and Ireland" and possibly Spain in the future but many economists and experts, some politicians say that the UK is different to those examples so it is to some expent scaremongering.

And again I often talk about the vulnerable, sick and elderley and how they will be affected as they are picked on and we are always hearing about the deserving or undeserving poor...they are an easy target...so I sound like a broken record but I think it's today many of this sector have gone for a march past the Houses of Parliament to make their worries known.

So far I have heard no reports in the news about this event but if it had been the protest on Student fees and probably because there will trouble that would've been followed.

Span Ows said...

There was a report in the Guardian Gildy but as to TV I have no idea; I doubt if it will get much cobergare unless one or two start a fight or break some windows! What a state of affairs. Don't feel bad about reiterating what you feel strongly about, I may respond sometimes with "the other view" but sometimes it is only by going on and on that others take notice.

The Great Gildersleeve said...

I have been pointed in the direction of one story about the march. I can see why this date was chosen but as the media is enjoying talking about the coalition one year on, that will probably get the attention as far as the media goes...

I'd like to think those who make decisions will take notice but I doubt it...


I've forgotten how to put direct links in the comments boxes but here's the link anyhow...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13348326

Paul said...

I agree with Gildy's first post about the impact not being fully felt yet. That said, and I think I've said it before, it was interesting to read about DC and GO reading Tony Blair's autobiography and deciding which bits they wouldn't copy.

On a non-partisan political standpoint I'm glad that they are doing well on the pledges front and also that the Guardian are keeping them honest.

Span Ows said...

I've been moaning at the fools on CIF at the Guardian for months about the full effects not filtering through yet. Not sure about the TB book thing, it seems this lot are doing his work. Haven't read about the "Rally against Debt " march yet (was on a plane most of the day!) It was a march to cut more and do it properly, not the silly minor snippets that are being done.