Comments for Platform 10

Comment on A post-bureaucratic manifesto by Betapolitics

Betapolitics — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:52:45 +0000

I love the fact that the Tories are experimenting with ideas such as open primaries, online public meetings, and wiki-writing future polices. The sofa style of governing, which can be depicted as a few chums trying to turn sound-bites into half-baked initiatives which will then be forced on the rest of us, is one of the main reasons why people now despair of politics and Government. Technology should be used to reengage people into the political process.

Comment on Necessity is the mother of invention by Fiona Melville

Fiona Melville — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:07:03 +0000

Frugal: hope you mean Conservative idea of carrots not sticks… I think we’ve had quite enough sticks for a few years!

As you say, however, there does need to be a form of oversight. I seem to have become slightly obsessed by bins; I might return to this one.

Comment on Policy Exchange: Auntie under the spotlight by David Skelton

David Skelton — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:03:15 +0000

The decisions to axe 6 Music and the Asian Network are very poor ones. 6 Music is almost the essence of what a public service broadcaster should do – championing art forms that are not being championed and would not be championed in the commercial sector. I have blogged about this elsewhere:

http://voteskeltonforchange.blogspot.com/2010/03/6-music-should-be-saved-for-sake-of.html

Also, the BBC hasn’t splashed out on the FA Cup. The FA Cup is covered by ITV and ESPN. I would argue that the tournament and particularly the Cup Final (remember that the FA Cup Final is one of the great shared national occasions) has suffered because it has not been on the BBC.

Comment on Policy Exchange: Auntie under the spotlight by Frugal Dougal

Frugal Dougal — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:02:39 +0000

The decision to axe the Asian Network might be intended as a rod to beat us with – “we were threatened with cuts, so we cut services to ethnic minorities first”.

Comment on Necessity is the mother of invention by Frugal Dougal

Frugal Dougal — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:57:56 +0000

My wife recycles like nothing on earth – woe betide me if I put a box or a can in the rubbish!

I like the Conservative idea of sticks as opposed to carrots – vouchers for recycling above and beyond the call of duty, as opposed to fines for not recycling enough. Difficult to see how it could be monitored without silicon chips in the bins, though, which would be problematic for privacy reasons.

Comment on What happened to localism?! by Platform 10 » Blog Archive » Necessity is the mother of invention

Platform 10 » Blog Archive » Necessity is the mother of invention — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 21:13:42 +0000

[...] had my questions over parts of the Conservatives’ plans for local government (why mandate weekly bin collection? Or, while a good thing in itself, I don’t really understand how [...]

Comment on Education reform, not kneejerk populism, addresses fears about immigration by Frugal Dougal

Frugal Dougal — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:08:46 +0000

Perhaps what we also need to do is lower the school leaving age, so that kids who are enthusiastic and keen to earn can sart working before they get that “educated” out of them.

Comment on Policy Exchange: Future Foundations by PCT deficits exposed, Government review calls for nurses to be 'more caring … | Definite Infertility Treatment Guide

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:07:47 +0000

[...] Platform 10 » Blog Archive » Policy Exchange: Future Foundations [...]

Comment on Could the prospect of a hung Parliament be the making of the Conservative campaign? by Frugal Dougal

Frugal Dougal — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:48:15 +0000

I don’t think it’s too late; rather, we’ll have to be able to adjust our priorities pragmatically in response to the real world (as opposed to Labour’s ideological world-as-it-should-be) right up to and beyond the wire.

Comment on A British ‘Tea Party’ Movement Is The Last Thing British Politics Needs by john mc

john mc — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 03:18:12 +0000

Michael, what fancy rhetoric are you referring to? Surely you see the benefit of Cameron trying to explain how individual policy ideas fit within a wider theoretical framework? Or do you prefer to stick with simple slogans?

I tend to disagree with your analysis of Cameron’s economic position and likely actions on public finance but I think your question is a very valid one. How he manages to answer it will clearly play an important role in the Conservative’s election chances.