Who will replace Iain Duncan Smith?

Originally posted by t020

So criminals who get ill shouldn't be punished? He cut crime by 15%. On the other hand, look at crime since 1997 when Labour got into power.

Serious crime then maybe.

Why don't the Tories admit defeat, they did enough damage to this country to last a life time during the 80s and early 90s, we refuse to forget that.

They have blown it for the 21st century thats for sure.

Originally posted by The Cycleracer

If there in prison for shoplifting and expecting a baby then no they should not be chained to a bed.

Serious crime then maybe.

Why don't the Tories admit defeat, they did enough damage to this country to last a life time during the 80s and early 90s, we refuse to forget that.

They have blown it for the 21st century thats for sure.

Chained to a bed for shoplifting? I'd like to know Belle's source on that, as I highly doubt that its true. Just left wing propaganda.

Edited to protect the innocent. - max

Do a bit of research then, like I have to do when you make ridiculous claims

Michael Howard didnt cut crime by 15%

Edited at user's request. - max

Here you go, from the Press Association, dated 1996.

I think it explains it all properly and fully.

And the Press Association is the Press Association, it is not a left apologist, okay?

DOUBLE CHALLENGE TO HANDCUFF POLICY

PA 1/15/96 12:43 AM

Copyright 1996 PA News.

By Padraic Flanagan and Simeon Tegel, PA News

The policy of keeping women prisoners handcuffed during hospital visits comes under a double challenge today.

The president of the Royal College of Midwives meets the director general of the Prison Service to press him to abandon the policy for pregnant prisoners.

And while they meet, a woman prisoner seriously ill with Aids will be mounting a legal challenge against the policy of keeping her shackled in her hospital bed, it was reported.

The Holloway prisoner, known only as Jane, is said to be handcuffed at all times to a prison officer in a ward at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, West London.

She is being held on remand and is charged with supplying heroin.

Her solicitor Sarah Cleary today goes to court to seek an emergency bail application which would allow her to continue her treatment without the security.

"There is no way that she will abscond. She is far too ill to even get to the door of her bedroom without getting out of breath," Ms Cleary told BBC Radio Five Live.

"I just find it incredible that in 1996 sick women are treated this way."

Meanwhile, the Royal College of Midwives was today urging prison chiefs to scrap the "inhuman" practice of shackling pregnant women prisoners while they are in hospital.

RCM president Caroline Flint will ask Richard Tilt, director general of the Prison Service, to end what she calls a "barbaric procedure".

Controversy erupted last week when it emerged that a pregnant inmate at Holloway prison, north London, was chained and handcuffed at times to prevent any escape during her 12-hour labour in the nearby Whittington hospital.

An RCM spokesman said today's meeting, arranged with the Prison Service on Friday, was a "positive development" in the college's long-running campaign.

"We will be discussing the issue of pregnant women prisoners being handcuffed during labour and ante-natal care. We are totally opposed to that happening," he said.

"We think there is a lack of dignity, it's inhuman and as far as we are concerned, women deserve the right to be respected during labour and not to be handcuffed."

Delegates at the RCM's annual conference in Belfast voted unanimously in July last year to campaign for manacles to be removed from pregnant prisoners.

Twenty women prisoners have escaped during hospital visits since 1990, including a pregnant inmate who jumped from a first-floor window

Too many failures from the past on this list.

I wouldn't call any of these a desirable leader.

I think Frank Spencer could do a better job.

Well it is all over

Michael Howard it is

blast, didn't manage to get my nomination in in time.

Originally posted by Phanerothyme

blast, didn't manage to get my nomination in in time.

Don't distress. I'm sure there will be other opportunities not too far in the future.

The tories go through almost as many leaders as Leeds United go through managers.

Originally posted by t020

Chained to a bed for shoplifting? I'd like to know Belle's source on that, as I highly doubt that its true. Just left wing propaganda.

It's not left wing propaganda, it's the truth. You know, the thing the tories avoid discussing for as long as they can get away with. And no, I'm not a Socialist Worker, a Marxist, a "Leftie" or any of the other terms that are sometimes used to belittle people. I'm just a well educated person, who can't see why anybody, apart from those with ONLY self-interests, would want to vote tory anyway.

Edited for quote formatting

Just in case anyone forgets why we threw the tories out last time:

"All we hear from the Opposition is poverty, poverty, poverty - - la, la, la It is just boring for Conservative members." Liam Fox House of Commons, 22/10/92

And just in case you were thinking they'd changed:

“It would be absurd for us to match their spending pound for pound.”

Michael Howard, BBC Online, 22 November 2002

Originally posted by max

 

“It would be absurd for us to match their spending pound for pound.”

Michael Howard, BBC Online, 22 November 2002

It would be. Why continue wasting billions of pounds on bureaucracy? Whitehall costs have shot up by 50% since Labour got into power in 1997. Why would it be sensible to continue wasting the taxpayers money? It isn't how much is spent, it's how it's spent that counts.