Your views on Question Time 29th April 2010
Question Time, the 91热爆's premier political debate programme comes from Birmingham on Thursday 29 April.
The includes the Schools Secretary Ed Balls, the shadow defence secretary Liam Fox, the Liberal Democrats' treasury spokesman Vince Cable, the SNP leader Alex Salmond and the broadcaster and journalist Janet Street Porter.
What are your thoughts about the programme and the panel? Let us know here on the Question Time debate page.
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Page 1 of 2
Comment number 1.
At 29th Apr 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:Have a questions for Ed Balls?
1)Will Ms Cooper be the next Chancellor under Labour?
2)Would Mr Milliband have led Labour to victory?
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Comment number 2.
At 29th Apr 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:Is it probable, before and since, Gordon Brown took High Office; that his ideas of 'All the talents' were blocked, and held back by the PM., in his efforts and success to save Britain's savers guarantee and economy from casino banking meltdown we see in other European economies?
Furthermore, is the PM stretched too far by inability to trust to delegate to 'yes ministers' around him? Apart from recent live mic excluded and the rather 'obvious ferocious-looking' team around him?
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Comment number 3.
At 29th Apr 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:Does the Conservative Representative on the panel remember the effect on Britain and it's average person/family during last recession under the last Conservative administration?
Plus, how was the Conservative, represented tonight, affected? In fact, do any Conservatives representatives have a personal story of how they were affected during the last or the present recession?
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Comment number 4.
At 29th Apr 2010, Absolutely Livid Yet Again wrote:To all on the panel.
Just how do you or your party intend to bring this Governments over expenditure under control - bearing in mind that it has been estimated that the current government has managed to squander and waste over three trillion pounds, much of this tax payers money or borrowed since 1997?
A straight answer required please folks !
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Comment number 5.
At 29th Apr 2010, Owen Goal wrote:Rarely watch Question Time - the level of debate is usually appalling.
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Comment number 6.
At 29th Apr 2010, kelly wrote:I think it's funny that America is so far ahead of the game when it comes to televised debates. I hope the lefty wins. I think the current prime minister is right, She is a bigot! Anyone who thinks like her should vote for the righty!People get upset when they over hear the truth about themselves. If she doesn't like it she should either change her opinion or be quiet. If she wants to be loud, bigoted and rude, then what should she expect in return?
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Comment number 7.
At 29th Apr 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:Rhetorical Question: To all politicians and all governments:
If 'Spitting Image' and their creators, were active today - which b...k or electoral concerns would be your puppet masters?
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Comment number 8.
At 29th Apr 2010, corum-populo-2010 wrote:Have our Leaders and 'Representatives' in UK, forgotten that the banks are responsible for a huge proportion of our deficit?
As so many banks are showing huge profits and bonuses - can we have OUR money back asap. PS. Can taxpayers, bank customers, pensioners and our Government, on our behalf, bring foreclosure on a bank? No - didn't think so.
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Comment number 9.
At 29th Apr 2010, Dr C Gallagher wrote:The topic for debate is the economy. The public sector makes no contribution to the economy, except to keep the private sector workforce healthy (so less down time in production) and educated (so more skills in the workforce). The reality is that a country needs to make things and sell them to improve the standard of living. Underpinning all that, of course, is energy. Without energy we will revert back to a peasant culture, relying on working the land with our bare hands. I will be interested to see who takes this debate down the energy route. This is for me one of the more serious issues we face today, yet it has not seen the centre stage. Lets see who can do that.
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Comment number 10.
At 29th Apr 2010, rural-hobbit wrote:ref 1. corum-populo-2010 5.13pm
And another question for Ed Balls...
Et tu brute? Perchance was GB steered into troubled waters?
Who is making ready to captain the ship (if still afloat) after next Thursday..
Himself, or the Noble Lord of Dark?
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Comment number 11.
At 29th Apr 2010, dogswhistle wrote:Until UKIP are invited there is no point in watching.
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Comment number 12.
At 29th Apr 2010, Pete wrote:Why was the New Primary Curriculum blocked by both the Lib Dems and Tories? This curriculum puts children's needs at the heart of education, and i feel it is wrong it has been blocked. Why did they not support it?
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Comment number 13.
At 29th Apr 2010, Doug Fletcher wrote:What is the point of having Ed Balls on the panel.He is one good reason not to vote Labour.
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Comment number 14.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nannamoo wrote:A question for all political parties - Why does my mother (self funding) pay nearly 拢300 a week more for her residential care, than social services pay for those they fund at the same residential dementia care home.
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Comment number 15.
At 29th Apr 2010, P S wrote:Gordon Brown stated the inheritance tax threshold for a couple is 拢640,000 - but they would have to die at the same time for this threshold to work. In the vast majority of cases one spouse precedes another the real threshold is half this - I wonder why David Cameron didn't pick this up?
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Comment number 16.
At 29th Apr 2010, alillb wrote:All three leaders in the leaders debate appear to be working from the assumption that those on unemployment benefits do not want to work and so have to be forced into some sort of compulsory work or loose their benefits. This raises a question of where are these jobs going to come from? How are the leaders saying going to create these jobs?
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Comment number 17.
At 29th Apr 2010, alillb wrote:A question for all parties - how are they going to help professionals who are now unemployed back into employment?
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Comment number 18.
At 29th Apr 2010, Matthew Jackson wrote:Definatly have a question for Ed Balls. The government are constantly talking about geeting young people out of work and into college well how can they when he has stopped and took 拢200 out of students pockets through EMA bonuses
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Comment number 19.
At 29th Apr 2010, Beccs wrote:What is the proposal around social care for children, all three talk about the police, teachers, nurses as front line service but no one mention us social worker who also work on the front line protecting the most vulnerable children from significant risk and abuse yet we get no mention around protecting, supporting or funding the service we provided. Government is very quick to place blame when care goes wrong and we are faced with serious case reviews however social care is not fully recognised as a front line service and this needs to be altered and our professional needs to be better supported.
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Comment number 20.
At 29th Apr 2010, Richard reece wrote:What is the point of having 650 odd candidates in that many constituencies if the election can be decided on this shallow "prime ministerial debate" show.
Why not just have a phone vote after the "debate" and the winner forms a government.
What a complete and utter sham our democracy has become.
Why should anyone attend a local election meeting and listen to the candidates if the whole election has been reduced to these three programmes.
It is an absolute disgrace and the end of democratic politics.
I remember when the party affiliation of the candidates was not on the ballot paper.
Not one of the party leaders' names will appear on the ballot paper which will be presented to me on polling day.
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Comment number 21.
At 29th Apr 2010, Doug Fletcher wrote:Why would anyone ask Ed Balls a question,he won't answer it,he never does
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Comment number 22.
At 29th Apr 2010, sukhdeep toor wrote:im absolutely disgusted by the poll results by yougov, positioning Brown in third place. the economic strategies explained by the PM were by far and large less flawed than the economic and immigration policies of cameron and clegg. and who better to repair the economy than a fantastic ex chancellor like brown himself. it is a real shame that buzz words such as 'change' and 'frightening' have actually managed to manipulate the public . it just seems that these debates were now an opportunity for talking shop party leaders to manipulate the public.
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Comment number 23.
At 29th Apr 2010, Helen wrote:Cameron was too over-confident in his non-reply to questions from Clegg/Brown regarding capping migration of people from the euro zone, then I realised, is Cameron & Co planning to exit UK Plc completely from European Legislation and so should he become PM, he may do as he pleases with 'capping' migration of people from anywhere? If this is the case, where will it leave the economic recovery of GB . . . in 'Splendid Isolation'?
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Comment number 24.
At 29th Apr 2010, adrian bonnington wrote:The EU MEMBERSHIP COSTS US 拢45 million a day, we give millions away in Foreign Aid - including 200 million pounds to a rich country like China.
Why all the fuss about how much Trident costs? If we get the dole scrounger back to work and stop giving large social housing to those who have large families - some of these families are getting over 拢100K in welfare a year. Use this money saved to start British manufacturing again - we invented over 50 percent of all inventions in the world.
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Comment number 25.
At 29th Apr 2010, Liz wrote:They all keep mentioning the YouGov poll held straight after tonight's debate, and that Cameron 'won' it - as if it means that the Conservatives won. The actual question in the YovGov poll was 'putting aside your personal political preferences, who do you think was the winner of the debate?' So it's easy to answer that question and state that you think Call-Me-Dave 'won' the debate without having any intention of voting for a Conservative government. I thought he was strongest, and so voted for him in the poll, but I'll gouge my eyes out with a toothpick before I vote for him next Thursday......... remember that the YouGov poll asked specifically about the TV debate, not the election or the voting preferences in it.
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Comment number 26.
At 29th Apr 2010, JJS wrote:Alex Salmond says he and the other none English gov reps should be more involved - instant savings stop free prescriptions, university fees and money given to them to be the same as english people get then they can have an equal platform!
JJS
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Comment number 27.
At 29th Apr 2010, philf wrote:Bigot = a prejudiced person who is intolerant of any opinions differing from his own ...... sounds like a case of pot, kettle and black for Gordon Brown
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Comment number 28.
At 29th Apr 2010, MoLackers wrote:Two words to summarise why nobody should trust the Tories with the economy:
"George Osborne"
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Comment number 29.
At 29th Apr 2010, JJS wrote:Love Janet Street Porter!
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Comment number 30.
At 29th Apr 2010, Robert Brown wrote:My wife and myself have already posted our ballot papers, after tonights disclosure of a Labour candidate already opening and revealing them on twitter I'm terrified regarding how this was capable of being done, but my main point is regarding our student son whom we have left his ballot papers on the kitchen worktop where it remains unopened, probably because he finds it difficult, like millions of students to get out of his bed.
If this is the attitude of students towards politics, I doubt the medias statement regarding the young voters being engaged with Nick Clegg and Lib Dems and we will see if their inaction on the 6th may actualy produces votes for Lib Dems.
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Comment number 31.
At 29th Apr 2010, sukhdeep toor wrote:the yougov polls are definately a reflection of public leanings towards their favourable party. although some may answer the poll Q's impartially, that does not mean all do. it would be naive to say that in no way have any correlation to the publics voting behaviour next week. how cameron was the strongest, when he failed to directly answer many questions put forward by brown, i do not know.
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Comment number 32.
At 29th Apr 2010, MikeT wrote:Why don't the Lib Dems realise they will cause massive job losses in the City (and many dependent companies) if they implement their draconian cap on bonuses? How will that help to pay off our national debt?
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Comment number 33.
At 29th Apr 2010, Midge Gibbs wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 34.
At 29th Apr 2010, saleeem wrote:Nick robinson the 91热爆 reporter, reported after the debate that Cameron refused to look Brown in the eye and engage in debate with him. I hope that we all vote on policy not personalites.
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Comment number 35.
At 29th Apr 2010, lesbud wrote:I dont know how we can trust labour...do you remember the slogan
education, education, education .....and then what did they do? they made university students pay for their education.....I would have had more faith in them if they had put their hand in their own pockets and paid back the fees of the their education....but that didnt happen did it! they just stated that if you wanted an education you couldnt expect the tax payer to pay for it! no but it was okay for us to pay for the mps education in previous years!
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Comment number 36.
At 29th Apr 2010, Dean wrote:I wish we had the option to vote for Obama in this election!
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Comment number 37.
At 29th Apr 2010, Samuel Bell wrote:If there are 拢35 billion pounds of efficienct cuts available, the current administration should be throughly ashamed to have let this situation arise. We all need to realise that the spending and waste from government is unstainable.
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Comment number 38.
At 29th Apr 2010, Ashley wrote:The fact that there is so much discussion about Tax Credits is just indicative of the way Labour model their policies to help them win future elections. Labour take your money away then gives it back to you in the form of credits, quangos and initiatives so that people rely on the government. People then feel they need to vote for Labour to keep these benefits. Conservatives can't say they will take these benefits away because they are scared to lose so many voters. Only the Lib Dems have the sensible tax policy of letting people spend their own money; they don't want you to depend on their hand outs just to win votes. Lib Dems are the only party who seem as though they are happy to go into power and do what they think is right then fight elections and if the people aren't happy then lose. Labour will do anything to hang on to power just like the Tories will do anything to get into power.
Labour should be the party to lift the poor out of poverty but instead they keep them there because if they didn't they would be voted out once the poor no longer needed them.
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Comment number 39.
At 29th Apr 2010, pete wrote:The party that "wins" this election is the one that doesn't get involved in forming a government. There is so much unsaid - that can't possibly be said by any of them, if they want to stand a chance - that will only come out after the election. Whoever gets in will have to make such huge cuts, redundancies, tax increases and austerity measures that they will never get re-elected again. Whoever can distance themselves from the next parliament will be the only one that won't be stained by it.
In a few years time, we'll only have 2 electable parties: whoever doesn't form (or get included in) the next government and a NEW party - possibly with liberal / green / social democratic views.
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Comment number 40.
At 29th Apr 2010, ROY WESTMIDLANDS wrote:why dont any of the partys give a clear answer on immigration?does this mean that anyone with strong views on this are biggoted to me,CLEGG,BROWN,CAMERON,are frightend to say anything incase of being labled raceist,as for those on benifits im 43 and disabled and my wife has to care for me,why is it that a carer gets less money than someone on the dole?and i have found that there is no help or support for younger people with illness and disabilities there is but there is loads of formes and redtape that makes it inpossible,my wife had to give up her job but we struggle to live what is the party leaders going to do to help the carers and the young ill and infirm why cannot they get winter fuel payments?
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Comment number 41.
At 29th Apr 2010, ianret wrote:When will you politicians tell the people you are suppose to represent the truth ? You lie.You steal.You cheat and then just gloss over it or change the laws to cover yourselves.Why are we suffering because of the banks ? Why does the public have to pay ? We have lost out but we have to pay......?! Get out you are like children squabbling ?
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Comment number 42.
At 29th Apr 2010, saleeem wrote:liz's comments about the You Gov poll are very interesting.
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Comment number 43.
At 29th Apr 2010, K Evans Independent Swindon wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 44.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nick Muckley wrote:I would love to pose the question. David Cameron has placed all the countries woes (rather successfully) on the doorstep of the beleaguered Prime Minister. If the government are so dreadfully wrong in all that it has done, where has the shadow cabinet been for the last thirteen years? Are they not suppose to be the checks and balances for the nation?? So after all this time (at great expense to the taxpayer) the Tories are admitting to being ineffective as a shadow cabinet and now are asking to be trusted with the keys to the house??!
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Comment number 45.
At 29th Apr 2010, MikeT wrote:We have been spending 4.5% more than we have earned for 16 years! These were the good times, why have our leaders been so irresponsible?
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Comment number 46.
At 29th Apr 2010, Danni wrote:As a Scottish student I cannot take Alex Salmond seriously, by attempting to deprive the the Scottish population of the opportunity to watch the debate, he was damaging his own reputation and the election turnout. As by further segregating the Scottish population will further discourage the Scottish youth in particular from voting.
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Comment number 47.
At 29th Apr 2010, foxunichakilo wrote:It looks like Salmond is running rings round the rest, this is exactly what was needed in the so called leaders debates.
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Comment number 48.
At 29th Apr 2010, vote zero none of the above wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 49.
At 29th Apr 2010, andiM wrote:The main feature of the leaders debate was supposed to be the economy!
Have we learned where cuts are going to happen? Erm ..No
Have we learned anything new? Erm..No
Do we know if anyone has any plans to raise VAT? Erm..No
If more than 3/4 of information regarding specific policies is not available how is this a democracy?
What they are not telling us could change any voters opinion...
The lack of proper journalistic questioning actually means we learn less from the debates, as it seems clear that simply repeating the question does not elicit an answer,just more obfuscation allowing politicians to pick and choose what they talk about. This allows vague responses with no detail.
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Comment number 50.
At 29th Apr 2010, cmdeane wrote:the scottish minister has said there are 4 countries in the UK and they should be represented in the debate, who would represent England? because the 3 main leaders represent the UK
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Comment number 51.
At 29th Apr 2010, John wrote:On a night of what should surely be political debate, how disappointing to see feminist show pony Janet Street Porter on the programme.
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Comment number 52.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nathan Bone wrote:Dear David,
Please could you ask your panel want all the parties think about the current cost of petrol / diesel and how they can justify the high costs of it when such a high percentage of the cost is TAX?
I am nearly 拢50 worst off a week with the resent increases. As a voter I would like to know how the main parties would address this unfair situation and prevent further increases.
Your sincerely
Nathan Bone
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Comment number 53.
At 29th Apr 2010, vote zero none of the above wrote:if liam fox wants more engagement from the electorate
do 2 things
put an official "none of the above" box on the ballot paper
and
make voting compulsory
if any of them promise that, then they get my vote
but i wont hold my breath
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Comment number 54.
At 29th Apr 2010, philf wrote:Is it just me or does Ed Balls expect to keep raising taxes forever ? Dont cut waste, raise taxes - when will it ever end ? When we're back at 90% in the upper band or does he expect to go on until he has a top rate of 100 % !
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Comment number 55.
At 29th Apr 2010, Alun wrote:All parties are concerned about spending cuts, there are people on the dole who like to live of the state so why dont they get these people out the house and do work in the local area for 20 hours a week similar to community service? if they refuse to do this then they will get there allowance took off them! this way everyone will want to work or certainly send them in the right direction wont it?
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Comment number 56.
At 29th Apr 2010, fielding wrote:As a hard working Public Sector worker for nearly 40 who has to travel and stay in hotels.
1. Iam fed up with being the scape goat for every Minister who needs to score a point.
2. I am fed up with Ministers telling the population that i am using my credit card to live a champagne life style. I use the card to pay for legitamte expenses unlike politicians. If politicians had goverment credit cards they would be strictley regulated like i am
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Comment number 57.
At 29th Apr 2010, Zana McClymont wrote:What makes Alex Salmond think he should be part of a national debate, he rings the bell for SNP and Scotland, why would anyone nationally want to listen to him....he also takes two salaries ...Scottish Parliament and Westminster(he does donate part of that but why if he is such a Nationalist does he want to leave his "KINGDOM")
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Comment number 58.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nick Muckley wrote:Maybe the Conservatives are right. It is a time for change, the only party that could offer new is the Lib Dems as they have never been in power before.
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Comment number 59.
At 29th Apr 2010, Robert Brown wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 60.
At 29th Apr 2010, simon wrote:Who picked this audience tonight: cchq
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Comment number 61.
At 29th Apr 2010, Zana McClymont wrote:Alex Salmond sounds like a different person on national TV, is it a clone ??? on Scottish TV he sounds like a dalek xx
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Comment number 62.
At 29th Apr 2010, Ken Wolverson wrote:The lib dems propose an amnesty for 600,000 illegal immigrants who have been here for ten years. As illegals they will have no record of entry to this country and no work record, therefore they could possibly have arrived recently. How do the lib dems propose to verify their status? Take the word of all 600,000?
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Comment number 63.
At 29th Apr 2010, Billythefirst wrote:Crumbs, anyone would think Ed Balls was George Osborne based on the comments on this thread!
#7 Well said.
#9 See7 - the Private Sector is not the be all and end all - it wasn't insanely greedy Public Sector employees that precipitated a massive recession was it? - it didn't bail itself out did it?
#11 They don't need to be given airtime as they only have two policies - stop immigration and get out of europe yawn.........Anyway there are plenty of quasi Ukippers hiding within the ranks of the Tory Party.
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Comment number 64.
At 29th Apr 2010, Ciaran Petticrew wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 65.
At 29th Apr 2010, DevonView wrote:While the Prime Ministerial debates have been interesting, they have not covered enough of the party policies and are far more of a beauty contest.
One thing was clear tonight was that David Cameron was incapable of answering a simple yes or no question. So much for the new politics.
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Comment number 66.
At 29th Apr 2010, Patrick wrote:Isn鈥檛 voting on a Thursday a stupid thing?? The politicians complain about low voter turn out then why make us all vote on a day when we have all been working?? How many single parents will take little Johnny to school, go to work, pick him up from the school, nursery or babysitters then go home cook dinner and then be bothered to go out and vote??? Our polling stations aren鈥檛 always on our doorstep and all of us don鈥檛 drive so do us a favour and make voting happen at the weekend鈥. Politicians always complain that we need to be more engaged in politics and that politics shapes our lives then how about shaping the voting system to fit around the majority of the country who find it a hassle to vote on a Thursday?
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Comment number 67.
At 29th Apr 2010, Scholes wrote:Why wasn't JSP challenged by the Chair with regard to her claim about the deficit costing each British family 拢90.000 per year? Why on earth do you keep engaging the services of this objectionable woman?
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Comment number 68.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nick Muckley wrote:Nick Clegg is the only winner from these debates. A pity he did not raise his profile earlier so that the voters could get to know him. Has this cost him his chance of residing in Downing St?
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Comment number 69.
At 29th Apr 2010, holly wrote:being age 16, i think it's important to note the amazing increase in interest of people my age in the current political debates and how the coverage of live debates and through question time has enabled us to get involved and form opinions about the political situation.
however, I'd like to ask:
-Are any of the parties doing anything concerning lowering the voting age to 16
-What are political parties going to do to influence the young minds that will within the next few years be taking the vote and with a growing population increasingly having a greater say within the election.
It's interesting to note that the ideas of the Green Party and working towards a more environmentally and ecologically friendly Country have a massive influence on the youth today and any green policies generally pull great favour from the young political minds. However, the Liberal Democrats have definitely gained a huge popularity from the 15-17 age group, which perhaps Brown and Cameron need to consider if they plan to, despite this election, keep power in the future and provide what we need in order to make a better country.
Also, the woman that just spoke FTW!
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Comment number 70.
At 29th Apr 2010, Mentor wrote:Ed Balls like Brown seems to have serious problems with numbers!
They both stated that there are more people in employment than ever before, it's a shame that the ONS does not support that statement:
The employment rate for the three months to February 2010 was 72.1 per cent. The rate was down 0.3 on the quarter and it has not been lower since the three months to October 1996. The number of people in employment fell by 89,000 on the quarter to reach 28.82 million. There were falls in employment over the quarter for both full-time workers (down 59,000) and part-time workers (down 30,000). The number of employees and self-employed people working part-time because they could not find a full-time job increased by 13,000 on the quarter to reach 1.05 million, the highest figure since comparable records began in 1992.
The unemployment rate for the three months to February 2010 was 8.0 per cent. The rate was up 0.1 on the quarter and it has not been higher since the three months to September 1996. The number of unemployed people increased by 43,000 over the quarter to reach 2.50 million, the highest figure since the three months to December 1994. The number of people unemployed for up to six months fell by 46,000, to reach 1.22 million. However, the number of people unemployed for more than twelve months increased by 89,000 over the quarter to reach 726,000, the highest figure since the three months to July 1997.
Nor did they see fit to point out that 176 million jobs 'Created' have been filled by Foreigners.
I suppose by bringing the above to their attention makes me a Bigot - so beit, I am a Bigot, but not a liar!
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Comment number 71.
At 29th Apr 2010, DevonView wrote:Will VAT go up after the next election?
Clearly it will and in the Tories case it would go up in the emergency budget in a few weeks time.
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Comment number 72.
At 29th Apr 2010, K Evans Independent Swindon wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 73.
At 29th Apr 2010, Phillipe Willems wrote:With many political figures talking about getting rid of our nuclear deterrent will they also guarantee not get our troops embroiled in regional and global conflicts? If an assessment has been made we cant afford to have these weapons we should not pursue a role of global policeman.
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Comment number 74.
At 29th Apr 2010, Dirk wrote:I live in Scotland. a hung parliament in my opinion has improved the quality of our politicians, improved inter-party communications and forced them to have to admit that sometimes they occasionally agree. if it was a proportional representation system, and according to polls, we would be much closer to a third/third/third than any kind of majority split in the House of Commons. Why has there been very little discussion on cooperation between the parties?
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Comment number 75.
At 29th Apr 2010, Richard wrote:I hear the other parties (and representatives) saying labour have doubled the debt in the last 13 years and with a large proportion of this coming from the bailing out of banks I wonder what the other parties would have done. Would they have not bailed out the banks if they where in power and not raised public debt or how else would they have dealt with the situation? And why didn't they not push for this alternative if it was better???
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Comment number 76.
At 29th Apr 2010, Chris wrote:My paternal grandparents are immigrants. They've been here for over 40 years and have paid into the system. The election debates haven't offended or alienated me or my dad at all. Immigration has become a problem and something needs to be done about it. I'd be one of the first to say that. Immigrants should be expected to contribute to society and they should be expected to adapt to our way of life, not the other way around.
Chris from London.
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Comment number 77.
At 29th Apr 2010, bufferz wrote:Why must the workers and employers be punished AGAIN? How come the unemployed/benefit claimants dont get told that they will lose 1% of their income, share the pain....
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Comment number 78.
At 29th Apr 2010, George Seddon wrote:Is Ed Balls in touch?
We pay at least twice as much for education, police, hospitals. Are they twice as good?
Gordon Brown just proved that politicians may hear what the people say, but they don't listen!
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Comment number 79.
At 29th Apr 2010, ianret wrote:K Evans ? You would be one of them ? Why ? They are the most hated people in the country why would you want to join the ranks ?
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Comment number 80.
At 29th Apr 2010, Zana McClymont wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 81.
At 29th Apr 2010, Iain Cormack wrote:By scraping trident how many people will find themself on the unemployment scrap heap? How will SNP re-employ these people?
I'm Scottish and Mr Salmonds retoric, where he blames Westminster for almost everything and masks his own parties failures, makes me cringe and could be seen as racist.
Would Scotland be a power in world politics if it went it alone?
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Comment number 82.
At 29th Apr 2010, Zana McClymont wrote:All very contrived Alec all very contrived......he hit the headlines your petition to the high court didnt...get a new spin doctor or even better get out of politics and do us all in Scotland a favour
Complain about this comment (Comment number 82)
Comment number 83.
At 29th Apr 2010, mountainbiker55 wrote:PR,PR,PR, Now,Now,Now.
Labour and Conservative will never agree as Liberals will gain.
SO MUCH FOR A FAIR DEMOCROCY IN THIS COUNTRY
I wonder what kind of democracy our troops are fighting for in Afghanistan and Iraq
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Comment number 84.
At 29th Apr 2010, PAUL SWAIN wrote:never mind the 3 main partys to get in at no 10 i say get nick robinson in as prime minister because at least he makes politics easey to understand in leymans terms and does unlike all mps give a strait answer to a question and also talks more sense as well hail nick robinson keep on reporting
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Comment number 85.
At 29th Apr 2010, holly wrote:janet street porter has a major point, trying to get jobs as young people today is so hard, and yet for those aged between 14 and 18 are expected to spend and live as adults, yet many have no available income to spend. i don't necessarily think immigration is the problem, however there should be more laws in place to allow greater opportunities or funding for young peoples work.
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Comment number 86.
At 29th Apr 2010, Marals50 wrote:To all Politicians, If you really want to lead this great country and you want our vote, SIMPLY 'Tell us the Truth.'
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Comment number 87.
At 29th Apr 2010, Nick Muckley wrote:I agree with JSP, a friend said "I have three grandchildren that cant get a job", this is not anything to do with immigration. It is because we are British. It is like the 50's all over again (And we still have not moved on as a society), we are to proud to get our hands dirty and do menial work. The reason foreign workers are getting jobs is because they are prepared to do them!!
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Comment number 88.
At 29th Apr 2010, Paul wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 89.
At 29th Apr 2010, Sarah Beckford wrote:I could not believe the ignorance of Janet Street Porter, with her views on 'working tax credits', she has absoloutly no idea how much of a lifeline they are. I lost a well paid job, but still have a huge mortgage. I am in full time employment, with a salary of 拢10000, and I am the only income earner in my household,if I did not have working tax credits, I would have to go on to benefits and would not be able to work at all, I would probably lose my house and end up costing the government a huge amount of money instead. I am in college in the evenings to hopefully be able to get a better job, that will pay a decent salary, therefore not costing the government a fraction to what I would do if I didnt have 'working tax credits'.
Janet needs to get in the real world.
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Comment number 90.
At 29th Apr 2010, caroline2 wrote:One big advantage of the format of the debates was that there were no interuptions from the Chair or the audience. This meant the leaders could use the time to set out clearly their policies. As a consequence there were fewer sound bite responses and less digression away from the major points we need to understand in casting our votes.
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Comment number 91.
At 29th Apr 2010, vote zero none of the above wrote:A pay rise and a second house for them....savage public service cuts for us....kick them all out!!!!!
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Comment number 92.
At 29th Apr 2010, d wrote:I'd like to ask why no one has considered that the multitude of legal, voting immmigrants WILL vote for Gordon Brown after yesterday's comment/'blunder'. I expect that many BME people feel that FINALLY someone is sticking up for them in this 'lets beat up on the immigrants' election.
hey - I was going to vote lib dem before yesterday,, but now old Gordo has gotten my vote. SERIOUSLY!
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Comment number 93.
At 29th Apr 2010, andiM wrote:Did Liam Fox really use the word assimilate...to live in this country you need to assimilate!..trying to get easy bigoted votes are we Mr.Fox. We do not have a homogeneous British culture. Or is it bye bye multiculturalism under the Tories? Cultural diversity is a good thing.We all know GB was wrong yesterday and Mrs.Duffy is clearly not a bigot.But the word assimilation appeals to the lowest common denominator. Immigrants are often scapegoats during a recession, and a cap on immigration is impracticable.The EU means you cannot do it and in fairness that is a good thing more Brits leave than E.U immigrants live here.
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Comment number 94.
At 29th Apr 2010, Robert Brown wrote:59 This comment has been removed yet David Cameron brought up the contemplation suite costing 拢3million on tonights debate which the 91热爆 aired, if I cant compare better use of this money in treating cancer sufferes then there is something wromg with the 91热爆'c moderation.
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Comment number 95.
At 29th Apr 2010, JenniferRO wrote:When will Labour understand that increasing taxes for those earning 20k per year will simply reduce the amount they spend on essential items including those from small shops and businesses. In turn these small businesses will lose revenue, pay less tax, employ fewer people who would have paid tax and push those people onto welfare. Stopping the NI rise will not take 6 billion out of the economy it will simply allow the Labour government to waste that money and push more workers and businesses into financial meltdown. This is the legacy a history teacher has left us after 13 years of financial mismanagement and its time to get the professionals into number 11 next week.
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Comment number 96.
At 29th Apr 2010, philf wrote:what I dont get is why none fo the politicians accept that both the tories and labour have the right idea for immigration - put a cap on it and you can only come in if there are free spaces AND you meet the points requirement - seems sensible to me ... not like the liberqals policy of "let them in but dont let them move out of their home town" - totally unenforcable and cloud cuckoo land thinking
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Comment number 97.
At 29th Apr 2010, U14366475 wrote:Your views on Question Time 29th April 2010?
Well done Fulham.
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Comment number 98.
At 29th Apr 2010, lesbud wrote:staged! how can we trust any of them really? after the expenses scandal and also trying to keep it covered up (and tax payers paid for the lawyers trying to stop this information getting out)Ive never been so confused who to vote for? you often feel that your vote doesnt count anyway....even now after they are supposed to cleaned up parliament they are still allowed to employ one member of their family...Im sorry but I dont know any other public company that allows family members to manage thier wife etc? you are just asking for abuse of the system...then they say we should up the mps wages otherwise you will only get rich people coming into politics...what rubbish! I know many trustworthy people who would love to work for 67,000 a year and they are not rich!
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Comment number 99.
At 29th Apr 2010, K Evans Independent Swindon wrote:In response to
53. At 11:24pm on 29 Apr 2010, vote zero none of the above wrote:
if liam fox wants more engagement from the electorate
do 2 things
put an official "none of the above" box on the ballot paper
....
There is a better option that is a Protest Vote.. vote for an Independent that you like.
I saw that there were no Independents standing so I put up the deposit and am standing as Protest vote myself.
Vote for the smaller parties.
Vote for who you believe in.
Don't waste your vote, protest vote!
鈥淭he accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference鈥.
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Comment number 100.
At 29th Apr 2010, ianret wrote:The '' problem '' Mr Fox ? Is people like you ? Arrogant beyond belief....
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