SIMON EMMETT . net

2009 has been a very eventful year in both realms of national and local politics. Nationally we have seen a Labour party putting party interest over the interests for the country, and unsurprisingly we have seen local Labour parties doing exactly the same.

The electorate, if not already apathetic of politics and politicians have found a new disgust with the because of the expenses revelations. That scandal alone has done more damage to politics than the bed-hopping sleaze that dogged John Major’s last years in office. At the time we needed a leader that got it. Got our anger. But we didn’t see any of that from Gordon Brown, who completely missed the point, and yet again came up with the new set of proposals that were unworkable, and then criticise the opposition parties for not supporting him. Well if the polls are true then Gordon Brown needs to try and understand how opposition actually works.

Economically the chickens have well and truly come home to roost for Labour. The years of excessive unfunded spending and racking up of debt, have helped to create the longest recession since the second world war. The man who claimed to have ended boom and bust, has damn near bankrupted this country, and he still claims that we were the best placed, even though we are the only main economy left in recession.

In summary, the government is economically bankrupt, morally bankrupt, and poorly lead.

Locally, like I said there lots of similarities. Is that part of the Labour constitution? Must be like the national party. In Greenwich Labour are too put party interests first. They won’t do business with the Mayor of London, and are seemingly in a sulk. To date they have come up with fake campaigns, and used every possible opportunity to have a go. Whether that be a fire in the Blackwall tunnel, or fare increases, Labour are only now speaking up. This is after eight years of silence when Ken Livingstone was Mayor.

The Thames clipper spin was classic Labour. The Thames clipper service was never under threat from Boris, but Labour claimed it was. So quelle surprise, when funding arrangements were confirmed Labour hailed it as THEIR success. Much like the pay-as-you-go oyster cards on the national rails, supposedly another Labour success!?! Even though it was a Conservative that made it happen.

Even more local is that of my ward of Shooters Hill. Nowhere have we felt Labour’s neglect harder. They didn’t care about this ward so much that they we happy for one of their councillor’s to disappear overseas for twelve months, and then contrived a way of ensuring that we wouldn’t have a by-election for him.

This year just shows how much Labour care about the individual. They tax the masses, increase taxes on the poor, increase poverty, and poorly represent you.

So what is there to look forward to in 2010?……