We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears.
 -François VI de la Rochefoucault

Redemption Attempt-Labour

Party conferences everyone! Take your seat, gather your note pads and pencils for the game-show where you pick holes in promises across the country. First round, Labour. 

Now, let me get started here. I know, in theory, it sounds like a Utopian wonderland, where the public get a better welfare system, and don't have to directly pay for it. However, as far as I can see, this has been done before, and in the long term, ruined Britain. Britain 1997, Labour gain office, promising a new welfare state and lower taxes. Britain 2008, in triple dip recession, under Labour. My problem is, where is the money going to come from? If it's not coming from the public, where is it coming from? Tourism? Immigration? Where? 

Ed Miliband Party Conference: the size of the problem
he thinks he has

Whilst it has already passed, having been from the 21st to the 24th of September, I just wanted to summarize my personal opinion of what happened. Labour have shot themselves in the foot. Nearly 5 years since the last general election, and Labour have already seemed to have forgotten why they were thrown out of power in the first place, economics. Having been the party to have led Britain into a triple dip recession in 2008, the Tories appropriately adjusted their policies to cutting down financial deficit and debt. However, when the British economy is just growing again, and stable, Labour decide that giving the NHS £2.5 billion, along with caps on taxes is a good idea. 

One of my main concerns for the Labour party, is there constant change of policies to counter UKIP. It's been a recurring thing for many parties, with another Tory MP switching sides as an example. But, immigration into the UK has been a key area that Labour were keen to highlight at the party conference, with "stronger border checks" and "reduce low skilled immigrants into the country" being a main change if Labour came to power. Bonus round: can anyone find anything about what they're actually changing. It's very vague to say the least, and even my anti-UKIP stance will know that they have a better manifesto than that. "Stronger border checks", how? Are we increasing the numbers of security and borders or only allowing a certain amount of people in per month? It's vague enough for me to think, Labour don't know what they're doing themselves.

So, with Labour having (in my opinion) justifying why they shouldn't be in office, can the Conservatives fight back and show the UK they actually politics (instead of sending jets to bomb ISIS). I guess we'll find out on the 1st of September...

Jordan Ifield