Comments on: The top 10 progressive policies of the noughties http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/ Left Foot Forward is a political blog for progressives. We provide evidence-based analysis on British politics, news and policy developments. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:58:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Egypt: A vindication for liberal interventionism? | Left Foot Forward http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-92881 Egypt: A vindication for liberal interventionism? | Left Foot Forward Sun, 20 Feb 2011 05:04:04 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-92881 [...] interventionism and the merits behind it. This blog has also stated its opposition to the war, describing it as: “…the most regressive policy of the [last] decade… the policy is, in the view [...] [...] interventionism and the merits behind it. This blog has also stated its opposition to the war, describing it as: “…the most regressive policy of the [last] decade… the policy is, in the view [...]

]]> By: Evening Standard interview: a clarification | Left Foot Forward http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-4418 Evening Standard interview: a clarification | Left Foot Forward Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:27:52 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-4418 [...] paper. Generally it’s a fair piece and reflects my views on Iraq (articulated previously on this blog) and other [...] [...] paper. Generally it’s a fair piece and reflects my views on Iraq (articulated previously on this blog) and other [...]

]]> By: John77 http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3759 John77 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:25:58 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3759 Joy Johnson is talking through her hat: I have a free bus pass and a Senior Railcard, but that doesn't stop me taking the 7.43 train when I need to do so - I just pay the full fare. I have never been humiliated when using my railcard or bus pass: the gentleman at my ticket office (who looks older than I) is always professional and helpful, as is the mature lady (who doesn't) but was mildly amused when I purchased my first railcard (and has looked mildly amused on a few occasions since - so what!) Nobody is/was told "to go to the back of the queue" - or certainly nobody SHOULD have been told to do so - merely if you want to travel in rush hour you have to pay full fare. It is silly to travel in rush hour if you do not utterly need to do so and it makes life more difficult for other commuters who do not have the choice. The original, sound, idea behind the offpeak free travel was that the marginal cost of pensioners travelling off-peak was negligible and it would be recouped by the saving from reducing congestion in the rush-hour as a result of a minority of pensioners choosing to alter travel times to take advantage of free travel. Those who are concerned about Global Warming should support a move to making off-peak, but NOT rush-hour, travel on public transport free/very cheap for pensioners. Pensioners travelling free in rush-hour add to the number of buses/trains belching out diesel fumes/using coal-fired electricity, but if they travel off-peak they just sit in empty seats with zero carbon footprint. The introduction of free rush-hour travel by public transport for over-60s has made life worse for ordinary commuters and I denounce it as a Regressive measure that hurts the poor while making no difference (or, in some cases reducing traffic congestion) for the rich travelling by car or taxi. Joy Johnson is talking through her hat: I have a free bus pass and a Senior Railcard, but that doesn’t stop me taking the 7.43 train when I need to do so – I just pay the full fare. I have never been humiliated when using my railcard or bus pass: the gentleman at my ticket office (who looks older than I) is always professional and helpful, as is the mature lady (who doesn’t) but was mildly amused when I purchased my first railcard (and has looked mildly amused on a few occasions since – so what!)
Nobody is/was told “to go to the back of the queue” – or certainly nobody SHOULD have been told to do so – merely if you want to travel in rush hour you have to pay full fare. It is silly to travel in rush hour if you do not utterly need to do so and it makes life more difficult for other commuters who do not have the choice. The original, sound, idea behind the offpeak free travel was that the marginal cost of pensioners travelling off-peak was negligible and it would be recouped by the saving from reducing congestion in the rush-hour as a result of a minority of pensioners choosing to alter travel times to take advantage of free travel.
Those who are concerned about Global Warming should support a move to making off-peak, but NOT rush-hour, travel on public transport free/very cheap for pensioners. Pensioners travelling free in rush-hour add to the number of buses/trains belching out diesel fumes/using coal-fired electricity, but if they travel off-peak they just sit in empty seats with zero carbon footprint.
The introduction of free rush-hour travel by public transport for over-60s has made life worse for ordinary commuters and I denounce it as a Regressive measure that hurts the poor while making no difference (or, in some cases reducing traffic congestion) for the rich travelling by car or taxi.

]]> By: Martin C http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3743 Martin C Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:07:55 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3743 "The Freedom of Information Act ... is responsible for lifting the lid on the misuse of MPs expenses" says you. No it wasnt. It was a disillusioned civil-servant leaking the details to the Telegraph, after the FoI order had been blocked by those very MPs. Nevertheless, the FoI act is a Good Thing generally. It just doesnt go far enough. “The Freedom of Information Act … is responsible for lifting the lid on the misuse of MPs expenses” says you.
No it wasnt.
It was a disillusioned civil-servant leaking the details to the Telegraph, after the FoI order had been blocked by those very MPs.
Nevertheless, the FoI act is a Good Thing generally. It just doesnt go far enough.

]]> By: tim finch Head of Migration ippr http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3731 tim finch Head of Migration ippr Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:03:33 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3731 It is worth adding under 'detention without trial' that this also happens to asylum seekers (including children) A completely inhumane, expensive and ineffective policy. Labour inherited a huge problem with asylum which it was always going to struggle to deal with - but generally its record in this area has been pretty shameful. Ending the detention of childen would be a good start for the next decade - and is something Labour could easily do straightaway. It is worth adding under ‘detention without trial’ that this also happens to asylum seekers (including children) A completely inhumane, expensive and ineffective policy. Labour inherited a huge problem with asylum which it was always going to struggle to deal with – but generally its record in this area has been pretty shameful. Ending the detention of childen would be a good start for the next decade – and is something Labour could easily do straightaway.

]]> By: Morus http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3719 Morus Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:22:10 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3719 Just saw the decade thing. Sorry. Just saw the decade thing. Sorry.

]]> By: Morus http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3718 Morus Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:21:30 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3718 Hmmm - intersting lists, but I'd offer slightly different acts: I'm less interested by whether I agree with a policy or not (Iraq, tuition fees) than whether something worked well. From a managerialist perspective, I'd say: HIGHS 1) Freedom of Information Act (would never be passed nowadays, by any political party with hopes of government) 2) Gay rights legislation (done reasonably for the most part, with little fuss, and has reshaped attitudes) 3) Independence of the Bank of England (not perfect regulatory system clearly, but Bank Independence was good) 4) Northern Irish solution (though shared credit with the Major Government) 5) Minimum Wage (not sure in theory, but in practice I think this has worked out well) LOWS 1) Lisbon Treaty (irrespective of EUphile/skeptic, the undemocratic nature of the passage was embarrassing) 2) Smoking ban and Licensing Reform (a complete dog's breakfast) 3) Constitutional Reform (exc reduction of hereditory peers) - Supreme Court, Welsh/Scottish devolution etc 4) Anti-terror legislation (especially the Regulatory Powers Act and Civil Contingencies Act) and 42 Days 5) 10p tax and associated changes to VAT and capital gains. Hmmm – intersting lists, but I’d offer slightly different acts: I’m less interested by whether I agree with a policy or not (Iraq, tuition fees) than whether something worked well. From a managerialist perspective, I’d say:

HIGHS
1) Freedom of Information Act (would never be passed nowadays, by any political party with hopes of government)
2) Gay rights legislation (done reasonably for the most part, with little fuss, and has reshaped attitudes)
3) Independence of the Bank of England (not perfect regulatory system clearly, but Bank Independence was good)
4) Northern Irish solution (though shared credit with the Major Government)
5) Minimum Wage (not sure in theory, but in practice I think this has worked out well)

LOWS
1) Lisbon Treaty (irrespective of EUphile/skeptic, the undemocratic nature of the passage was embarrassing)
2) Smoking ban and Licensing Reform (a complete dog’s breakfast)
3) Constitutional Reform (exc reduction of hereditory peers) – Supreme Court, Welsh/Scottish devolution etc
4) Anti-terror legislation (especially the Regulatory Powers Act and Civil Contingencies Act) and 42 Days
5) 10p tax and associated changes to VAT and capital gains.

]]> By: Thomas Byrne http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3717 Thomas Byrne Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:07:00 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3717 Oh dear, some were before 2000, silly me. :3 Oh dear, some were before 2000, silly me. :3

]]> By: Thomas Byrne http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3716 Thomas Byrne Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:00:42 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3716 Best: * Bank of England independence * Unashamed reform of public services (in England) * Peace in Northern Ireland (although, of course, that was not solely the Labour Government by any manner of means) * Pushing the Lisbon Treaty through * Human rights: the HRA and associated measures (usually required by ECtHR judgments: lowering the age of consent for gay men, introducing civil partnerships, transgender recognition Worst: * National Minimum Wage * Smoking ban and associated anti-smoking measures * Devolution in Scotland and Wales (although it was fairly inevitable) * Anti-terror legislation. * The hunting ban (not just for what it was, but for what it symbolised) Best:

* Bank of England independence
* Unashamed reform of public services (in England)
* Peace in Northern Ireland (although, of course, that was not solely the Labour Government by any manner of means)
* Pushing the Lisbon Treaty through
* Human rights: the HRA and associated measures (usually required by ECtHR judgments: lowering the age of consent for gay men, introducing civil partnerships, transgender recognition

Worst:

* National Minimum Wage
* Smoking ban and associated anti-smoking measures
* Devolution in Scotland and Wales (although it was fairly inevitable)
* Anti-terror legislation.
* The hunting ban (not just for what it was, but for what it symbolised)

]]> By: Fab 5: Monday 4 January 2009 | The Young Fabians Blog http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/01/the-top-10-progressive-policies-of-the-noughties/comment-page-1/#comment-3715 Fab 5: Monday 4 January 2009 | The Young Fabians Blog Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:59:40 +0000 http://www.leftfootforward.org/?p=5749#comment-3715 [...] Left Foot Forward set out their thoughts on the top 10 progressive and top 5 regressive Labour polic.... [...] [...] Left Foot Forward set out their thoughts on the top 10 progressive and top 5 regressive Labour polic…. [...]

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